CZECHS, HIT BY INJURIES, NEED WIN OVER ARMENIA IN WORLD CUP QUALIFIER
By Karel Janicek

SLAM! Sports, Canada
Sept 2-8, 2005

PRAGUE (AP) – The Czech Republic, coming off a 2-0 loss to Romania,
needs a win over Armenia on Wednesday to stay in contention for the
World Cup.

The Czechs dropped to third place in Group 1 with 21 points, one less
than second-place Romania and four behind the leading Netherlands.
The Dutch and the Czechs have played nine matches, while Romania has
played two more games.

Only the eight group winners in Europe and the two best second-placed
teams are assured of advancing. The remaining second-placed teams
enter a two-leg playoff to determine Europe’s three other berths.

“Our goal with this team is nothing but to advance,” Fiorentina
defender Tomas Ujfalusi said. “Nine points from the remaining three
matches should be enough for us to advance directly, I hope. But now,
three points from Wednesday’s game are of key importance.”

The Czechs normally should have little trouble beating Armenian, which
is at the bottom of the table with four points from 10 games. But the
Czechs have been struggling recently with injuries to key players.

The absence of Dortmund playmaker Tomas Rosicky was considered crucial
in the consecutive losses to Romania and Sweden in an Aug 17 friendly,
ending an eight-game winning streak.

Rosicky, who underwent medical checks at a hospital on Sunday, was
still doubtful Tuesday due to a groin injury, said team spokesman
Lukas Tucek. He was joining the team training session to test his
fitness before the game in Olomouc, 220 kilometres east of Prague.

Coach Karel Bruckner called up Sparta Prague midfielder Lukas Zelenka
Tuesday, who will be ready to take Rosicky’s spot.

Also, the Czechs have been without Salzburg striker Vratislav Lokvenc
and Monaco midfielder Jaroslav Plasil through injuries.

AC Milan’s Marek Jankulovski was taken off just minutes into Saturday’s
game for fear he could aggravate an ankle fracture he suffered in
May. Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech also complained of shoulder pain
after the match and returned to London for medical checks.

Czech captain Tomas Galasek of Ajax has recovered from a left knee
injury and will be available to fill his defensive midfielder spot,
Tucek said.

Armenia was expected to field an under-strength squad as well.
Midfielders Artur Voskanian and Artash Bagdasarian of the under-21
squad were called up to fill in for injured Gamlet Mkhitarian and David
Grirorian. Aremenia will also be without defender Samvel Melkonian,
who has unspecified problems with his passport, and injured striker
Edgar Manucharian.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress