Sports News
The Czech ice hockey team will have to do without the disqualified Petr Nedved at the forthcoming World Championships: we hear the reaction of coach Slavomir Lener. Pardubice have continued their remarkable comeback and the Extraliga play-offs finals will, for the first time ever, be decided by the last game. The Czech women's tennis team will go to the United States for a Fed Cup tie, but without number one Chladkova. And is the most exciting young player in the Czech football league bound for Inter Milan?
Veteran forward Nedved disqualified from ice hockey World Championships
"We're sad about it because we were expecting Petr to play and we still think we were in the right...Of course the International Hockey Federation has the last word and they decided as they did, but we won't let it distract us, we'll carry on. Still, it's a pity for the team and a pity for Petr Nedved himself, because he really wanted to play."
Lener's team took on current world champions Slovakia on Wednesday in a warm-up game: the result a 1:1 draw with the Slovaks equalising in the dying seconds.
Pardubice continue comeback, force play-offs to last game of seven
The Czech squad for the World Championships has not yet been completely finalised, partly due to the ongoing Extraliga play-offs which have gone down to last game of seven for the first time ever. Pardubice continued their amazing comeback on Tuesday with an exciting 5:1 win over Slavia to make it three games apiece. After being four minutes away from taking the title on Sunday, the Prague club now find themselves on the back foot and Pardubice will have the psychological edge - and home advantage - for what will surely be a thrilling final game on Thursday evening.
Czechs to face US in Fed Cup without number one Chladkova
The Czech women's team will after all fly to the United States next week for a Fed Cup tie against the US. There had been some suggestion the Czechs would refuse to attend because of security fears. Meanwhile, the Czech team will have to do without the country's number one Denisa Chladkova, who wants to concentrate on her training after a series of disappointing results. The United States, however, will be at full strength, with both the Williams sisters in their team.
Teplice knock holders Slavia out of Czech football cup
Holders Slavia Prague are out of the Czech football cup after being beaten 3:0 by Teplice in the quarter-finals on Wednesday. And staying with Slavia the Slovak referee of their game against Sparta last Saturday has referred to the racist booing of Slavia's black Brazilian striker Adauto in his match notes. Most referees in the Czech league reportedly prefer to overlook racist abuse from the terraces. How can Adauto play football when he has to listen to stupid booing, asked ref Lubos Michel.
19-year-old top-scorer Sverkos bound for Inter Milan?
The top scorer in the Czech league, Ostrava's Vaclav Sverkos, has reportedly been in transfer talks with the mighty Inter Milan. Sverkos's agent has indicated that if Inter do sign the 19-year-old striker he would spend a period on loan to a smaller club while he continues to learn his craft.
