Sports News
Jaroslav Plasil, the only Czech player left in the Champions League, has received his first call-up to play for the Czech national team. The player tells us of what the call-up means to him, and how his club Monaco still hope to bounce back after a Champions League defeat against Real Madrid. Meanwhile, in the Czech league Sparta continued their poor run with a third 0:0 home draw in a row. In the ice hockey Extraliga playoffs Sparta lead Slavia on games, while Zlin are through to the final after beating Pilsen.
Plasil gets first international call-up, does well at Bernabeu
"I am really pleased because it's the best thing that can happen in a player's career, to play for the national team. I'm really happy. Of course it's all about getting experience - it's my first call-up and I'm sure I will gain some experience."
On Wednesday night Jaroslav Plasil had another great experience when he appeared in front of 100,000 fans at one of the most famous stadiums in the world, Real Madrid's Bernabeu. His team Monaco were beaten 4:2 by the star-studded Real in the first leg of their quarter-final tie. However, the blonde-haired youngster did make an impact after coming on as a substitute, sending in a perfect cross for Morientes to head into the net. Though he enjoyed the game, Plasil rued the fact Monaco had let in so many goals.
"It's a pity we conceded four goals because it's going to be hard now. We'd have to win 2:0 at home to advance and it won't be easy. But we believe we can do it and we'll give it our all."
Jankulovski set to join Juventus in summer
An established Czech international who can probably look forward to Champions League action in the future is Marek Jankulovski, who should be joining Czech captain Pavel Nedved at Italy's Juventus in the summer, after Juve this week signed a first-option deal to buy him from Udinese. Jankulovski, who started his career at Banik Ostrava, can play in midfield or as a full-back.
Poor start to second half of season could spell end for Sparta coach
Kotrba in the Czech domestic league Sparta Prague continued their run of poor form at home to Liberec on Monday, when they were lucky to escape with a 0:0 draw after Liberec missed a host of chances; the reigning league champions have played three home games since the start of the second half of the season, all of them 0:0 draws. They are third in the league, seven points behind leaders Ostrava. Unsurprisingly perhaps, there has been a great deal of speculation about the future of Sparta manager, Jiri Kotrba.
Sparta lead Slavia while Zlin beat Pilsen in ice hockey playoff semis
'Best ice hockey stadium in Europe' has official opening Saturday
With a month to go now till the World Ice Hockey Championships, the competition's main arena in Prague's Vysocany district is being officially opened this Saturday, with President Vaclav Klaus due to cut the ceremonial ribbon. The multi-purpose arena is said to be the best of its kind in Europe.
