Sports News

In Sports News: Pardubice win ice hockey's Extraliga for the first time in 16 years, clinching the final series with a 3:2 home win over last year's champions Zlin; Pavel Kubina is picked for the national hockey squad, despite an unprecedented punishment for saying a referee had taken a bribe; Slavia Prague FC manager Josef Csaplar looks set for the chop after a defeat at Slovacko; and Pavel Nedved says he will decide in the summer whether to rejoin the Czech national team.

Pardubice win Extraliga for first time in 16 years with dramatic win over Zlin

Pardubice, photo: CTK

Pardubice captain Jiri Dopita lifted the Extraliga trophy in front of an ecstatic home crowd on Sunday evening, as local fans savoured Pardubice's first success in the Czech ice hockey league in 16 long years. After a poor start, Pardubice clawed their way back to come third in the regular season and fought their way to the playoff finals. And having got there, they won the best-of-seven series in the shortest possible time - Sunday's dramatic 3:2 win over last year's champions Zlin making it 4:0 on games. Here's captain Jiri Dopita:

Pardubice - Zlin, photo: CTK

"Maybe it was an advantage for us starting the series in Zlin, because they were under pressure at home and twice we were able to take advantage of that. And then we played excellently here, although we were lucky a couple of times. We're just glad we managed to pull it off - it wasn't easy."

Jiri Dopita would seem to have the golden touch - his Extraliga trophy with Pardubice the seventh of his career. Among the other stars of the east Bohemian side: Milan Hejduk, Michal Mikeska, and Slovak goaltender Jan Lasak. Here's what he had to say afterwards:

"It was a hard game, and they played surprisingly openly. They attacked in numbers and there were more chances than in the previous three games. For a long time the game was undecided, but then we went 3:1 up and managed to hold on till the game ended 3:2. And after that it was great!"

Kubina for national team despite unprecedented punishment over corruption claim

Pavel Kubina, photo: CTK

Czech national hockey coach Vladimir Ruzicka has picked Pavel Kubina for the upcoming World Championships. Critics say the Vitkovice captain should not be allowed to represent his country after being severely punished for accusing a referee of bribe taking. Kubina says he will appeal a ruling last week in which he was given a 15-match ban and a fine of 200,000 Czech crowns (around 8,500 US dollars).

Csaplar under huge pressure after Slavia lose at Slovacko

Josef Csaplar, photo: CTK

Slavia Prague FC manager Josef Csaplar looks set for the sack, after Slavia's poor run continued with a 2:0 defeat at the hands of lowly Slovacko on Saturday. Slavia are third in the league behind Teplice, who beat Opava 1:0. Leaders Sparta Prague, meanwhile, were due to face Zlin on Monday evening. It must be said that Sparta's huge lead, and the lack of a decent challenger, have made this an unusually dull season in the Czech league.

Nedved to decide on possible return in summer

Pavel Nedved, photo: CTK

Just days after Pavel Nedved said he was considering quitting football completely due to injury, the former Czech captain now says he may return to the national team after the summer. Nedved, who is 32, says playing in the World Cup remains his dream, and he would be ashamed to go with the Czech Republic if he had not taken part in at least the autumn qualifying games.

Nedved v Baros part two in Champions League

Meanwhile, Nedved's other dream is to win the Champions League with Juventus, and the eyes of all Czech football fans will be on part two of Nedved versus Milan Baros on Wednesday, when Juve entertain Liverpool in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie. Liverpool lead 2:1 from the first game. Vladimir Smicer, not a first-team regular at the English club, says it is 90% likely he will leave Liverpool in the summer.