Šmicer to undergo knee surgery

Czech winger Vladimír Šmicer told journalists on Friday that he was getting ready for a knee surgery at a prestigious clinic in Antwerp, Belgium. He said he would decide on his future based on the result. Šmicer, who has had knee cartilage problems since a winter training camp and has not appeared in a single game in the spring, said he had already visited the Antwerp clinic for a pre-op check-up on Wednesday. The 2005 Champions League winner with Liverpool has played 81 matches and scored 27 goals for the Czech national team in 1993-2005. Šmicer made history by scoring at three consecutive European championships -- in 1996, 2000 and 2004.