Sports News
Czech teams had mixed fortunes in the first round of football's UEFA Cup on Thursday, while Czech internationals did well in some of Europe's top leagues. The coach of the Czech Fed Cup and Davis Cup teams, Jan Kukal, has resigned, and a Formula 1 car has appeared on a Czech circuit for the first time ever. All those stories and more are in Sports News.
Mixed fortunes for Czech sides in UEFA Cup first round
Czech champions Slovan Liberec were shaky at the back - not for the first time this season - in their home tie with Dinamo Tbilisi. After being 2:0 up at the 60 minute stage, they eventually won 3:2, not an ideal outcome given the away goals rule.
Slavia Prague will be kicking themselves that they squandered a 2:0 lead away to Mouscron of Belgium. Slavia were 2:1 up with five minutes to go when Radek Bejbl felled a Mouscron player in the box. Bejbl got a red card and the Belgians got a penalty, which they converted to end the match 2:2.
Good weekend for Czechs in Europe
It was another good weekend for Czech internationals based abroad. Milan Baros got a goal for Liverpool in his first start at Anfield, while in Holland, Tomas Galasek scored for Ajax. In Germany's Bundesliga, Jan Koller got the only goal in Dortmund's victory over Rostock, though fellow Czech Tomas Rosicky missed that game; he's still out with a muscle strain.
Coach of Fed Cup and Davis Cup teams retires at 60
The coach of the Czech Fed Cup and Davis Cup tennis teams, Jan Kukal, has retired, not long after his 60th birthday. Czech number one Jiri Novak said Kukal had the respect of the players and it was a pity to see him go. While Kukal has health problems, he isn't quitting tennis completely - he says he will still coach younger players.
Litvinov lead Extraliga after four rounds
After four games Litvinov lead ice hockey's Extraliga, ahead of Sparta and Pardubice. In the latest round the league leaders beat Vitkovice 3:2, Sparta beat Havirov 3:1 and Pardubice won 7:1 away to Karlovy Vary.
McLaren considering regular testing of Formula 1 cars at Brno circuit
A Formula 1 car appeared at a Czech circuit for the first time ever on Saturday when McLaren's David Coulthard tested Brno's Masaryk circuit; which could become the regular test track for the McLaren team. Coulthard said Brno was better than half the Grand Prix circuits in Europe.
Athletics roundup
Decathlete Roman Sebrle has been beaten at a major meeting for the first time this season, in France's Talence. Despite Sebrle's second place in Talence, the European Champion still won the decathlon Grand Prix, and with it 30,000 dollars. Filip Ospaly was also in action in France at the weekend - he came second in the triathlon world cup in Nice. Lastly, 400 metres hurdler Jiri Muzik was a last minute addition to the European team at the World Cup in Madrid on Friday, and came fourth.
