Monday, January 14, 2008
Mario Holek signed for Dnipro last week and now has been given an international call-up (©FC Dnipro)Czech Republic coach Karel Brückner has included three uncapped players in his squad for the training camp and friendly with Poland in Cyprus next month.
Trio called up
The UEFA EURO 2008™ contenders are taking 28 players to Cyprus, with a reserve team to meet Greece's second string in Nicosia on 5 February and a full side facing Poland in Larnaca the following day. Defender Jan Rajnoch plus midfield pair Luboš Kalouda and Mario Holek are included for the first time in a strong squad, which includes the return of defensive pair Marek Jankulovski and Zdeněk Grygera from injury. Kalouda was part of the Czech team that reached last year's FIFA U-20 World Cup final and his selection follows the similar promotions of Jan Šimůnek and Martin Fenin. Rajnoch is hoping for a debut at 26 while Holek has had a busy week, having also joined FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk from 1. FC Brno. The Czech Republic will open UEFA EURO 2008™ against co-hosts Switzerland on 7 June and also meet Portugal and Turkey in Group A.
Czech Republic squad
Goalkeepers: Petr Čech (Chelsea FC), Jaromír Blažek (1. FC Nürnberg), Daniel Zítka (RSC Anderlecht)
Defenders: Marek Jankulovski (AC Milan), Radoslav Kováč (FC Spartak Moskva), David Rozehnal (Newcastle United FC), Tomáš Ujfaluši (ACF Fiorentina), Zdeněk Pospěch (AC Sparta Praha), Zdeněk Grygera (Juventus), Michal Kadlec (AC Sparta Praha), Jan Šimůnek (VfL Wolfsburg), Jan Rajnoch (FK Mladá Boleslav).
Midfielders: Tomáš Galásek (1. FC Nürnberg), David Jarolím (Hamburger SV), Jaroslav Plašil (CA Osasuna), Jan Polák (RSC Anderlecht), Tomáš Rosický (Arsenal FC), Marek Matějovský (Reading FC), Daniel Pudil (SK Slavia Praha), Libor Sionko (FC København), Jiří Kladrubský (AC Sparta Praha), Mario Holek (FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk), Luboš Kalouda (1. FC Brno).
Forwards: Jan Koller (1. FC Nürnberg), Milan Baroš (Olympique Lyonnais), Marek Kulič (AC Sparta Praha), Martin Fenin (Eintracht Frankfurt), Stanislav Vlček (RSC Anderlecht).
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Samuel Holmén scored his first senior Sweden goal (©Getty Images)Costa Rica 0-1 Sweden
A Sweden team made up of players from Nordic leagues exacted a little piece of revenge for their 1990 FIFA World Cup elimination by Costa Rica as Samuel Holmén's goal gave the visitors victory in San Jose.
'Perfect pass'
Sweden lost 2-1 to the Central American side in Italy 18 years ago but the UEFA EURO 2008™ contenders gained the edge in this friendly early in the second half as Behrang Safari's pin-point cross from the left was turned in by Brøndby IF midfielder Holmén. By that stage former Derby County FC, West Ham United FC, Manchester City FC and Málaga CF forward Paulo Wanchope had left the pitch after the final appearance of his career in which he scored more than 40 goals for Costa Rica. "It was a perfect pass from Behrang and I connected with the ball perfectly with a volley," Holmén said. "It was my first goal for the national side and it feels great in view of EURO 2008™."
Debutants
Coach Lars Lagerbäck started with nine uncapped players and brought on three substitutes for their debuts, and will field a similar lineup on Saturday against the United States in Carson City, Nevada. "We were a bit slow off the mark, but with so many new players that was a bit expected," he said. "I think we did well and there were a lot of positives to take from the game."
Chances
Although Lagerbäck admits that the squad in the summer will be very different, he added that the newcomers all had an opportunity to make the breakthrough. "We have a squad of 16 or so players that are more or less certain. That means that there are about six places that are still for grabs," he said. "But then again anything can happen with regards to injuries and so on, so anyone who does well here will increase their chances of getting selected."
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Photos/Wallpapers »As official sponsor of UEFA EURO 2008™, McDonald's Austria not only guarantees a great football atmosphere on the ground, but also in the air as a specially branded Player Escort airbus has begun transporting passengers from London, Paris, Athens and Frankfurt to Vienna.
Lucky seven
Photographer to the stars Achim Lippoth interviewed 75 children who hoped to have their picture on the livery, and the lucky seven find their faces adorning the Austrian Airlines plane which is already attracting attention at airports across the continent. "With the Player Escort programme we encourage children to become actively involved with football," said Andreas Schmidlechner, marketing and communications director of McDonald's Austria. "McDonald's writes sports sponsorship in capital letters: it begins with the support of local football clubs and goes through to sports sponsorship at national level. Emphasising a balanced lifestyle is very important to us."
McDonald's campaign
The restaurant chain will help enlist 682 children from across Europe to accompany teams on to the pitch at the finals, with more than 200 coming from Austria. Launched in 1992, the Player Escort programme continues to prove hugely popular and national team player Martin Hiden was delighted to lend his support as official ambassador. Entry forms are available at all McDonald's restaurants in the country, with a closing date of 29 February.
Excitement
Peter Baumgartner, an executive vice-president of Austrian Airlines, said: "The McDonald's Player Escort is a nice idea for getting kids excited about UEFA EURO 2008™. Therefore we are particularly pleased about the excellent partnership with McDonald's Austria. It rounds off our co-operation with the city of Vienna fan zone superbly."
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