Germany wary of Czech & mate

Having already qualified the Czechs will rest key players such as the yellow-carded Tomas Galasek, Pavel Nedved, Tomas Rosicky and Milan Baros, fielding a second-string side. How motivated this reserve outfit will be is questionable but Germany are not taking anything for granted. ‘‘We just have to look at Euro 2000 and the match against Portugal if we need a warning,’’ explained Voller.

On that occasion, the Czechs, like Portugal this year, had already qualified and opted to rest influential players, but still routed Germany 3-0 to send them out of the tournament and prompt the dismissal of coach Erich Ribbeck.

Former AS Roma marksman Voller, 44, succeeded Ribbeck but questions could be asked about his future if Germany do not make the quarter-finals. Czech coach Karel Bruckner, who is two decades older than his opposite number, insists the eleven players he sends out will be a match for Germany’s full-strength side. ‘‘We have enough good players in our squad to play in this match,’’ said Bruckner.

Germany need to win the tie to be sure although a draw will suffice should the match between The Netherlands and Latvia fail to produce a winner.

In fact the 1990 World Cup winners could even make the grade if they lose a high-scoring match against the Czechs by a single goal and the Dutch lose. ‘‘It is in our hands and that is a huge advantage,’’ explained captain Kahn. ‘‘But it would be suicide to think playing a weakened team is something in our favour.’’

Getting goals is the main problem for Germany with a toothless attack firing blanks and Michael Ballack, 27, yet to open his account. ‘‘It is always the way with the National team,’’ confessed Dietmar Hamann. ‘‘We have problems when we have to take the game to opponents. I will be digging out the tape from 2000 as a reminder.’’

The structure of the Czech line-up is a mystery but the budding stars will want to prove their worth and enact revenge with the memories from the Euro 96 final — when Germany won 2-1 courtesy a golden goal from Oliver Bierhoff — still fresh.

In D Group of uncertainty

• If Germany win they will clinch a quarter-final place. If Germany draw with the Czech Republic they will only go through if Latvia also draw with the Netherlands.

• If Germany lose they can still claim a quarter-final spot if the Latvia-Netherlands match finishes 0-0 and Germany lose 1-2.

• The Dutch will go through to the last eight with a win over Latvia only if the Germans do not beat the Czech Republic.

• The Netherlands can also go through with a score draw if Germany lose to the Czechs. If the Dutch draw 0-0 with Latvia they will still reach the quarter-finals if Germany lose by more than two goals or by a lower single goal defeat than 3-2.

Did you know?

• Pavel Nedved (right) is one yellow card away from the all time competition record of five set by Romania’s Gheorghe Hagi

• Forty-four-year-old Rudi Voeller is the youngest coach at Euro 2004. In 1988 Franz Beckenbauer became the youngest coach to take Germany to the European Championship at the age of 42

• Though the two teams have never met, between them, they are the two most experienced squads in terms of combined international caps. The Dutch squad has a total of 1,022 caps, second only to Latvia who have 1,032.