Sports News
The Czech Republic's football team have drawn Germany, the Netherlands and Latvia in what many are calling the toughest group in Euro 2004: we hear the reaction of Czech goalkeeper Petr Cech. In the Czech league, title-holders Sparta Prague have closed the gap on leaders Ostrava seven points with a home win over Teplice. Czech ice hockey forward Radim Vrbata has scored the second hat trick of his career, and Jan Svorada has been named the 2003 "King of Czech Cycling".
Czechs face Dutch, Germans in tough Euro 2004 group
"I think our group is one of the hardest, because there are three strong teams: us, Holland and Germany. The Czech national team don't have such a good record against the Germans. None of us wanted to draw Holland either, but we have to face them again in the group stage - it's a pity."
The Czech Republic play Latvia, the Netherlands and Germany in that order at Euro 2004, with the first of those games on June 15. The bookies, by the way, say the Czechs are the seventh most likely team to win the 16-country competition.
Sparta make two points on leaders Ostrava before winter break
Czech football league leaders Ostrava drew 1:1 on Saturday with Ceske Budejovice to maintain their unbeaten record this season. Reigning champions Sparta Prague, meanwhile, moved to within seven points of Ostrava by beating Teplice 3:0 on Sunday. Karel Poborsky got two of Sparta's goals, one of which came from a penalty after Igor Gluscevic was fouled. Gluscevic, the best paid player in the league, got Sparta's third himself, ending a long goal drought the last weekend before the winter break. By the way, I must apologise for mistakenly saying last Monday that the winter break had already started.
Ice hockey round-up
Jaromir Jagr made a quick recovery from injury to notch up one goal and two assists for Washington in their 5:3 win over Columbus in ice hockey's NHL on Saturday. Czech forward Radim Vrbata also made the headlines with the second hat-trick of his career, helping Carolina to a 4:3 win over Pittsburgh. In the Czech Extraliga, the biggest game of the latest round saw leaders Pardubice beat second-placed Hame Zlin 4:1 on Sunday; Pardubice are now eight points clear at the top.
Jan Svorada named 2003 "King of Czech Cycling"
Jan Svorada's status as the leading Czech cyclist was confirmed at the weekend, when he was named 2003's "King of Czech Cycling" at a ceremony in Prague. Svorada said he hadn't had the best of seasons and regarded the award as recognition for what he had achieved in 13 years as a professional cyclist.
