Czech footballing great dies

Czech footballer Svatopluk Pluskal who was part of the Czechoslovak team that reached the 1962 World Cup final, has died at the age of 74 in a nursing home. Pluskal, who was capped 56 times between 1952 and 1965, was not only in the side that lost 3-1 to Brazil in the World Cup final but also finished third in the 1960 European Championships. He formed a stunning midfield partnership with Josef Masopust, European footballer of the year in 1962, both at international and club level at Dukla Prague. Pluskal, who suffered a brain haemorrhage in 2004, coached Prague Bohemians, Cyprus outfit Enosis Neon Paralimni and Skoda Pilsen.