Czechs seek second coming

By Mike Burnett

Srnicek was part of the Czech's disappointing Euro 2000 campaign

Oozing with confidence after an impressive qualifying campaign, the Czech Republic fancy their chances at this year's European Championship.

Even sharing a tough group with Holland, Latvia and old rivals Germany is unlikely to dampen their spirits.

"In Euro 96 we were in a group with Germany, Russia and Italy, and we still reached the final," former goalkeeper Pavel Srnicek told BBC Sport.

"The expectation's very high this time. I'd tip them to reach the last four."

Certainly an impressive show in Portugal could wipe out memories of recent disappointments and return the Czechs to the glory days of eight years ago.

It was at Euro 96 that the side announced their arrival on the international scene following the break up of Czechoslovakia with their sensational surge to the final.

People know and respect Bruckner in the Czech Republic because he's kind of like Bobby Robson is to England Pavel Srnicek

But four years later, the team failed to live up to their debut success, exiting the tournament in the group stages.

"Actually we had a hard group - France, Holland and Denmark," recalled Srnicek, who was wearing the number one shirt at the time.

"The first game we played was against Holland and we lost on a last minute penalty, which was upsetting.

"The next game we lost 2-1 to France and the tournament was over. We beat Denmark in our last game, but that was the only thing we could take away from the Championship."

More disappointment followed when the Czechs failed to make it to the 2002 World Cup, but Karel Bruckner's appointment as coach has signalled a return to winning ways.

A fantastic 17-match unbeaten streak followed, enabling them to become one of the first teams to reach Portugal and condemning qualifying group rivals Holland to a play-off.

Nedved is just one of many stars boosting the Czech's chances

"People know and respect Bruckner in the Czech Republic because he's kind of like Bobby Robson is to England," added the former Czech star, now at West Ham.

"He's a very good tactician and he always gives a chance to younger players. He brought in players from the under 21 squad to help the team build for the future.

"This has paid off because all those players are doing well at the moment and he mixes it up with the experienced players too, like Pavel Nedved, Karel Poborsky."

As well as mixing youth with experience, there is also a pleasing blend of steel and technique in the team, but it still remains to be seen whether the Czechs can upset the form books against their old foes Germany.

The two sides have their fair share of history together, dating back to 1976 when Czechoslovakia beat the West Germans on penalties to lift their first and only European Championship title.

Just 20 years later, Germany had their revenge, denying the Czechs a second title after Oliver Bierhoff's golden goal.

"There's always some passion because we feel whatever those Germans do, they always do well at this tournament, even when they have a bad qualifying campaign.

"Obviously with all this history, it all comes back to you when you play them. We want to give them something back."