World Cup Corner

Pavel Nedved, Juventus midfielder and former European Footballer of the Year, will return to help Czech Republic in in this month’s FIFA World Cup play-off against Norway after a 16-month absence. Nedved hurt his knee and retired from international football after the Czechs lost 1-0 to eventual champions Greece in the Euro 2004 semi-finals.

Karel Brueckner has also called up Monaco midfielder Jaroslav Plasil, who is coming back from a foot injury. He told the reporters:

“We have a strong team and with Nedved we are even stronger. I welcome the fact that the team once again can show its quality and that it widens the potential lineup of our midfield.”

Goalkeepers:
Jaromir Blazek (Sparta Prague), Petr Cech (Chelsea), Antonin Kinsky (Saturn Ramenskoye)

Defenders:
Zdenek Grygera (Ajax Amsterdam), Marek Jankulovski (AC Milan), Martin Jiranek, Radoslav Kovac (both Spartak Moscow), Pavel Mares (Zenit St Petersburg), David Rozehnal (Paris St Germain), Tomas Ujfalusi (Fiorentina)

Midfielders:
Tomas Galasek (Ajax Amsterdam), David Jarolim (Hamburg SV), Jiri Jarosik (Birmingham City), Pavel Nedved (Juventus), Jaroslav Plasil (Monaco), Karel Poborsky (Ceske Budejovice), Jan Polak (Nuremberg), Tomas Rosicky (Borussia Dortmund), Vladimir Smicer (Girondins Bordeaux)

Forwards:
Milan Baros (Aston Villa), Marek Heinz (Galatasaray), Tomas Jun (Trabzonspor), Jiri Stajner (Hanover 96).

Related articles:
Come out and play again
World Cup play-off draw
Six teams from Europe enter play-offs