Sports News

In Sports News: the Czech Republic beat a physical Saudi Arabia side 2:0 in a World Cup warm-up; Karel Poborsky's Ceske Budejovice win promotion to the Czech first division; Nicole Vaidisova and Martina Navratilova win prizes in Strasbourg; and Roman Sebrle is forced to pull out of a meeting in Austria.

Czechs beat physical Saudi side in first of three World Cup warm-ups

Marek Jankulovski (left) and Mohamed Nur from Saudi Arabia, photo: CTK

The Czech Republic's football team have continued their World Cup preparations with a warm-up match against Saudi Arabia in Innsbruck. Milan Baros scored his first international goal since last September to put the Czechs in front early in Friday's game, before Marek Jankulovski scored a penalty in the dying minutes to make it 2:0. It may have been a friendly, but the Saudis didn't pull any punches, says Jankulovski.

"It was pretty tough, especially at the beginning when they really got stuck in. The referee didn't blow so often and we took a few kicks but I think the game calmed down in the second half. You go on the pitch to play football, not to make war."

The Czechs' next World Cup warm-up is against Costa Rica in Jablonec on Tuesday. They'll be without midfielder Tomas Rosicky for that game - he has pulled a muscle and it is not yet clear whether he will return for the final pre-Germany friendly against Trinidad and Tobago in Prague next Saturday.

Poborsky's Ceske Budejovice win promotion to top flight

Karel Poborsky is very likely to be the only player at the World Cup who ended the league season in his country's second division; he moved to Ceske Budejovice, a club he part owns, after being kicked out of Sparta Prague. But if Poborsky, who is 34, stays at Ceske Budejovice he will be back in the Czech top flight next season - the club has just secured the second promotion spot. Kladno finished top.

Vaidisova wins first WTA title on clay, Navratilova takes title 175

Nicole Vaidisova, photo: CTK

The Czech women's tennis number one Nicole Vaidisova has taken the sixth WTA title of her career - she beat Shuai Peng of China 7-6 6-3 in the final of the Strasbourg International on Saturday. The 17-year-old said winning her first clay-court competition was the perfect warm-up for the French Open.

Vaidisova's wasn't the only Czech success in Strasbourg - the legendary Martina Navratilova took the doubles with partner Liezel Huber of South Africa. It was the 175th title of her career for Navratilova, who turns 50 in October.

Sebrle pulls out of "lucky" Gotzis meeting with injury

Roman Sebrle, photo: CTK

Decathlete Roman Sebrle normally does very well at Gotzis in Austria. Indeed it was there that he set his world decathlon record. But Sebrle will be happy to forget Gotzis 2006, after he was forced to pull out after just three disciplines due to a leg injury. It was only the second time in his career that the Olympic champion failed to complete a competition. Sebrle said his main priority this season is the European Championships and he needs to stay fit.

Nymburk win Czech basketball title again

Nymburk have won their third Czech basketball title in a row: a 98:76 win over Kunin on Sunday made it 4:1 to Nymburk in the best-of-seven final series.