Sports News

Tomas Rosicky has again been named Czech Footballer of the Year, while the Czech national team have caused an upset by beating European Champions France 2:0 in Paris. The football league is back on this weekend after the winter break, and ice hockey's league leaders have been deprived of three points in connection with drug-taking. And "Cyling's Emil Zatopek" Jan Vesely has died at the age of 79.

Tomas Rosicky again named Czech Footballer of the Year

Tomas Rosicky, photo: CTK

At a glitzy ceremony in Prague on Monday, Tomas Rosicky was named Czech Footballer of the Year. It was the second such award in a row for the 22-year-old Borussia Dortmund midfielder. National team coach Karel Brueckner was again named Manager of the Year, Sparta's Tomas Huebschmann was Best Young Player and former international captain Jiri Nemec, who is now 36, was named Personality of the League. Getting back to boy-wonder Tomas Rosicky, he had this to say when asked what he wished for Czech football.

"Well, I've really got my fingers crossed for us in the Euro 2004 qualifiers, because we have a really good team and it'd be a pity if we had to watch the championships on television."

Night to remember as Czechs beat France 2:0 in away friendly

Photo: CTK

As a warm-up for upcoming Euro 2004 qualifiers against Holland and Austria, Rosicky and co took on the mighty France in Paris on Wednesday, and it was a night to remember for the Czech Republic. Young Sparta Prague defender Zdenek Grygera stunned the French with a wonderful goal from 25 metres after only seven minutes, and the reigning European Champions never really recovered. Then, twenty minutes from the end, Milan Baros turned on the speed after a great one-two with Richard Dostalek to score a second and seal victory. It was the biggest achievement in some time by a Czech team which is an ideal mix of youth and experience. Fingers crossed they can maintain that form in the Euro qualifiers.

Czech football league resumes this weekend after winter break

The Czech domestic league kicks off again after the winter break this coming weekend, when the biggest tie will be third-placed Teplice against leaders Sparta Prague.

2004 ice hockey World Championships can be held in Pardubice, says Fasel

The dispute over the building of a new arena in Prague for the 2004 World Championships may not mean disaster for the Czech organisers after all. The head of the International Ice Hockey Federation Rene Fasel said on Tuesday that if the worst came to the worst the arena in Pardubice could be used instead.

Extraliga leaders Pardubice deprived of three points for drug use

Extraliga leaders Pardubice have been deprived of three points after defender Michael Vyhlidal was found to have taken performance-enhancing drugs before a game against Slavia. Pardubice still have a 10-point lead, however.

Zahrobska comes in top ten in world skiing event day before 18th

birthday The great hope of Czech downhill skiing Sarka Zahrobska came ninth in the combination at the world alpine skiing championships in St Moritz on Monday, one day before her 18th birthday.

Cross-country skier Bauer to sue Swedish paper over drugs allegations

The leading men's cross-country skier Lukas Bauer is planning to sue Sweden's Expressen newspaper which accused him of taking performance-enhancing drugs. To add to his woes, Bauer is also suffering back problems.

"Czech cycling's Zatopek" Jan Vesely dies at 79

The legendary Czech cyclist Jan Vesely has died at the age of 79. Vesely won the Eastern Bloc's Race of Peace in 1949 and was Czech cycling champion an incredible 26 times. A colleague described him as cycling's Emil Zatopek.