Post by Monica-Webmaster on Jun 14, 2008 13:42:04 GMT
Bruckner faces striking dilemma as another new rule worries Czechs
Guardian.co.uk
Karel Bruckner goes into the decisive match in Group A fearing that his Czech Republic side will be confronted with a new way of experiencing the same old frustration. Two injury-time goals on Wednesday - one for Portugal against the Czechs and the other Turkey's winner against Switzerland - mean that Bruckner's men have exactly the same points and goals tally as the Turks, which means that if tomorrow's match ends in a draw a European Championship group game will go to extra-time, and possibly a penalty shoot-out, for the first time.
The rule has been in place since Euro 2004 but has not hitherto been applied and when Bruckner was told about it before this game he demanded to see the statutes. Once he saw the proof, he sighed and explained why he hoped to avoid making history. "We were the victims of a new rule in Euro 96, when we lost the final against Germany on a golden goal," lamented the coach. "And then in Euro 2004 we were undone by yet another new rule, when Greece beat us in the semi-final with a silver goal. And now here we are facing yet another innovation."
His distrust of the new rule did not, of course, stop him preparing for it and he revealed that penalty practice had been added to the Czechs' training sessions. "I'll think about the potential penalty-takers but of course if it goes to a shoot-out only the players who are feeling truly confident will be asked to take one."
The match may not go that far, of course, and, if the Czechs are to emerge from the group with Portugal, Bruckner must resolve a curious dilemma: should his team go with the approach that brought a fortunate victory against Switzerland in their first match or the one that brought defeat, but a much improved performance, against Portugal in the second? If he plumps for the latter, that will mean the 6ft 7in striker Jan Koller again being left on the bench. Milan Baros was preferred up front against Portugal because his greater speed and mobility made him more suited to a counterattacking game.
Although Baros looked dynamic, his finishing was that of a man who has not scored an international goal since March 2007 and Bruckner was criticised for not substituting him with Vaclav Sverkos, who in the previous match had come on to score the winner. "We had our strategy and he did not fit into that," the coach insisted, before telling journalists: "You might think five strikers is a good idea; I simply do not think so. I'm sorry about that."
Turkey's coach, Fatih Terim, has also tried two different formations and mindsets so far and is expected to tackle the Czechs with the same approach he used to eliminate the co-hosts. That probably means that the enterprising wingers Gokdeniz Karadeniz and Arda Turan will be entrusted with the task of supporting the excellent striking partnership of Semih Senturk and Nihat Kahveci. Mehmet Aurelio will serve as the midfield metronome and Middlesbrough's Tuncay Sanli is likely to be deployed as yet another free inventor. "The Turks rely on their skills and ability to improvise; they're quite unpredictable," said Bruckner. "As for us, I hope we have yet to reach our peak."
Turkey full-back Hamit Altintop said that the euphoria that had engulfed the team since their win over Switzerland gave them the edge. "With the morale we have, you must believe that we will get a good result and reach the quarter-finals."
Guardian.co.uk
Karel Bruckner goes into the decisive match in Group A fearing that his Czech Republic side will be confronted with a new way of experiencing the same old frustration. Two injury-time goals on Wednesday - one for Portugal against the Czechs and the other Turkey's winner against Switzerland - mean that Bruckner's men have exactly the same points and goals tally as the Turks, which means that if tomorrow's match ends in a draw a European Championship group game will go to extra-time, and possibly a penalty shoot-out, for the first time.
The rule has been in place since Euro 2004 but has not hitherto been applied and when Bruckner was told about it before this game he demanded to see the statutes. Once he saw the proof, he sighed and explained why he hoped to avoid making history. "We were the victims of a new rule in Euro 96, when we lost the final against Germany on a golden goal," lamented the coach. "And then in Euro 2004 we were undone by yet another new rule, when Greece beat us in the semi-final with a silver goal. And now here we are facing yet another innovation."
His distrust of the new rule did not, of course, stop him preparing for it and he revealed that penalty practice had been added to the Czechs' training sessions. "I'll think about the potential penalty-takers but of course if it goes to a shoot-out only the players who are feeling truly confident will be asked to take one."
The match may not go that far, of course, and, if the Czechs are to emerge from the group with Portugal, Bruckner must resolve a curious dilemma: should his team go with the approach that brought a fortunate victory against Switzerland in their first match or the one that brought defeat, but a much improved performance, against Portugal in the second? If he plumps for the latter, that will mean the 6ft 7in striker Jan Koller again being left on the bench. Milan Baros was preferred up front against Portugal because his greater speed and mobility made him more suited to a counterattacking game.
Although Baros looked dynamic, his finishing was that of a man who has not scored an international goal since March 2007 and Bruckner was criticised for not substituting him with Vaclav Sverkos, who in the previous match had come on to score the winner. "We had our strategy and he did not fit into that," the coach insisted, before telling journalists: "You might think five strikers is a good idea; I simply do not think so. I'm sorry about that."
Turkey's coach, Fatih Terim, has also tried two different formations and mindsets so far and is expected to tackle the Czechs with the same approach he used to eliminate the co-hosts. That probably means that the enterprising wingers Gokdeniz Karadeniz and Arda Turan will be entrusted with the task of supporting the excellent striking partnership of Semih Senturk and Nihat Kahveci. Mehmet Aurelio will serve as the midfield metronome and Middlesbrough's Tuncay Sanli is likely to be deployed as yet another free inventor. "The Turks rely on their skills and ability to improvise; they're quite unpredictable," said Bruckner. "As for us, I hope we have yet to reach our peak."
Turkey full-back Hamit Altintop said that the euphoria that had engulfed the team since their win over Switzerland gave them the edge. "With the morale we have, you must believe that we will get a good result and reach the quarter-finals."