Sports News
The Czech Under 21s have won the European Under 21 football championships for the first time ever, thanks to an heroic performance by keeper Petr Cech. Slavomir Lener has been named Czech ice hockey coach. In tennis, Jiri Novak is into the second round of the French Open. For all those stories and more listen to Sports News.
Keeper Cech plays a blinder as Czechs win European Under 21s Championships
And Petr Cech, who was the clear choice for man of the match, had this to say afterwards.
"We believed in ourselves. We said before extra time that whatever happens happens, and that even if we didn't score we'd hold out for penalties. We decided it in the penalties, and I personally believed in myself.
Michal Pospisil scored the golden goal which put the Czechs into the final, and converted a penalty against France. He was still euphoric when he and his teammates arrived home in Prague on Wednesday.
"It's a wonderful feeling, and the highlight of my career so far. There was a super atmosphere throughout the tournament, and a great bunch of lads. All the players played very well and I think we deserved it in the end, even though the French were great. Yeah, a great experience."
Blsany sign Nemec with money from Simak deal
In other football news, former Czech international captain Jiri Nemec has agreed a move from German Cup winners Schalke to the Czech club Blsany. Blsany were only able to afford Nemec due to the transfer of their former player Jan Simak from newly-promoted Hanover to Champions League runners up Bayer Leverkusen. The Czech club are to receive 15 per cent of the six-million-euro transfer fee for Simak, who is 23 and was the top scorer in the German second division last season.
And new Sparta Prague coach Josef Jarabinsky evidently means business - his charges are already in training for next season, just three weeks after the last one finished. Jarabinsky says he is not much impressed by what he has seen of the Sparta players so far.
Slavomir Lener appointed Czech ice hockey coach
As expected, the Czech Ice Hockey Union has named Slavomir Lener as replacement for Josef Augusta. Lener, who just pipped Alois Hadamczik for the post, was at coach Ivan Hlinka's side when the Czech Republic won the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano. He also has several years of NHL coaching experience. I was never a great player, but you don't have to be a good player to be a good coach, said Lener.
Novak faces Knippschild in second round of French Open
In tennis, Jiri Novak was due to play the German Jens Knippschild in the second round of the French Open on Thursday morning. Novak, who is seeded 14th, beat the Russian Mikhail Youzhny 6:3 6:4 7:6 in the first round. Nineteen-year-old Iveta Benesova was the only Czech woman to make it past the first round at Roland Garros, before losing 6:4 1:6 4:6 to Natalie Dechy of France in the second round on Wednesday.
