Czech national team bans 6 players and sacks coach

Czechs in turmoil as coach sacked

The Czech Republic national side is in turmoil after coach Petr Rada was sacked and captain Tomas Ujfalusi quit.

Six players have also been banned, with West Ham's Radoslav Kovac and Reading's Marek Matejovsky among them.

A string of bad results prompted Rada's sacking, while a breach of discipline after last week's defeat by Slovakia led to the player bans.

The Czechs trail leaders Northern Ireland by five points in World Cup qualifying Group Three.

They lost 2-1 at home to neighbours Slovakia on 1 April after being held to a 0-0 draw in Slovenia on 28 March, seriously denting their chances of reaching the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.

The Czech Republic have eight points from six matches, with a game in hand on leaders Northern Ireland.

Former Liverpool striker Milan Baros, Martin Fenin, Vaclav Sverkos and Ujfalusi were the other four players banned indefinitely, with captain Ujfalusi immediately announcing his retirement from international football.

The six players were criticised for visiting a restaurant following the defeat.

Another key Czech defender, Marek Jankulovski of AC Milan, said he is also considering retiring.

Rada last year replaced Karel Brueckner, who led them to the Euro 2004 semi-finals.

The Czechs next play in Slovakia on 5 September.

kas wrote:http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/7990168.stm

Czechs in turmoil as coach sacked

The Czech Republic national side is in turmoil after coach Petr Rada was sacked and captain Tomas Ujfalusi quit.

Six players have also been banned, with West Ham's Radoslav Kovac and Reading's Marek Matejovsky among them.

A string of bad results prompted Rada's sacking, while a breach of discipline after last week's defeat by Slovakia led to the player bans.

The Czechs trail leaders Northern Ireland by five points in World Cup qualifying Group Three.

They lost 2-1 at home to neighbours Slovakia on 1 April after being held to a 0-0 draw in Slovenia on 28 March, seriously denting their chances of reaching the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.

The Czech Republic have eight points from six matches, with a game in hand on leaders Northern Ireland.

Former Liverpool striker Milan Baros, Martin Fenin, Vaclav Sverkos and Ujfalusi were the other four players banned indefinitely, with captain Ujfalusi immediately announcing his retirement from international football.

The six players were criticised for visiting a restaurant following the defeat.

Another key Czech defender, Marek Jankulovski of AC Milan, said he is also considering retiring.

Rada last year replaced Karel Brueckner, who led them to the Euro 2004 semi-finals.

The Czechs next play in Slovakia on 5 September.

Seems a bit odd that 6 players, and some of them are important ones, would get banned indefinitely for just visiting a restaurant...anyone know what actually happened?

Axeslammer wrote:The Czechs have been in demise for a while now (since 2005 ?), they're now completely unraveled : end of a very good generation

bluenine wrote:

Axeslammer wrote:The Czechs have been in demise for a while now (since 2005 ?), they're now completely unraveled : end of a very good generation

Serbia or Croatia will become the new Czech. Both have a good generation growing up.

Fey wrote:Imagine if Tito was still alive...that Yugoslavia team would be so sick. THey would have Zlatan as well!!

Pierre Littbarski wrote:

bluenine wrote:

Axeslammer wrote:The Czechs have been in demise for a while now (since 2005 ?), they're now completely unraveled : end of a very good generation

Serbia or Croatia will become the new Czech. Both have a good generation growing up.

Wrong former Yugoslavian countries.

Bosnia-Herzegovina 7 - 0 Estonia

Bosnia-Herzegovina 4 - 1 Armenia

Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-1 Belgium

Belgium 2-4 Bosnia-Herzegovina