Black Stars Hope to Rebound Against Injury-Plagued Czechs
June 17, 2006
Still swallowing their 2-0 defeat against Italy, World Cup debutants Ghana will be looking to capitalize on the Czech Republic's lack of key strikers Milan Baros and Jan Koller when they meet in their second Group E match in Cologne on Saturday.
The Czechs have confirmed that Baros, struggling with a foot injury sustained during a friendly, will miss Saturday's game.
There are fears that Baros, top scorer in Euro 2004 when the Czech Republic reached the semi-finals, may have to sit out the entire World Cup after a scan on Tuesday showed he had fluid in his foot that they had previously not seen. The 24-year-old has missed most training sessions, and even painkillers have not helped him finish workouts.
"Serious losses"
Adding to Czech coach Karel Brückner's troubles, star striker Jan Koller was carried off on a stretcher after pulling his hamstring during the Czech Republic's 3-0 win over the United States on Monday. The Czechs are also without forward Vladimir Smicer, who pulled out of the squad through injury before the tournament.
"Koller, Baros, Smicer, these are serious losses for us," Brückner told reporters this week, adding that the pressure would now be on the midfield. But the white-haired master tactician and psychologist said the team would pull through.
"We have played several times without Koller, without Lokvenc, without Baros, without Nedved, without Rosicky… we're not going to have the ideal line-up. But there is strength in the team."
The Czechs will have to face Italy in their final match, so victory over Ghana would be a welcome insurance policy in their bid to reach the second round.
The Czechs will be counting on Tomas Rosicky, who scored twice against the US on Monday and has just signed on to Arsenal, as well as the talented and energetic midfielder Pavel Nedved -- widely considered the best Czech player of modern times -- to stifle the Black Stars challenge.
Ghana looks at scoring
Ghana will be looking to transform their stylish play into goals in Saturday's clash -- something they failed to do during the game against Italy despite ample possession in midfield.
Ghana failed to threaten a disciplined Italian defense, while a botched back pass from Samuel Osei Kuffour gifted Vincenzo Laquinta the second goal.
Ghana coach Ratomir Dujkovic however is confident the four-time African nations champion will manage to get to the knockout phase.
"I was proud of my players in the Italy match except for the left back, but he has been replaced for not doing what he was asked to do," said the 60-year-old Serb, who has also coached Rwanda and Burma among others.
"I think nevertheless that while the Czechs are a strong side we can achieve something against them and then make it into the second round," he added.