Previous Encounters:
The Czech Republic have a good history against Italy (winning two and drawing one in
recent encounters). The draw (2:2) was in Palermo on 18th February 2004 while the two wins
occured in a Prague friendly (1:0) on 18th May 2002 and in Liverpool (2:1) at Euro 96
(14th June, 1996).
In previous World Cups, Italy beat the former Czechoslovakia: (2:0) at Italy 1990 and (2:1aet) in the Italy 1934 Final. Both matches were in Rome.
Although Czechoslovakia lost to Italy in the 1990 Group Stage, they did
continue onto the quarter-finals (where they lost to West Germany) while Italy lost to
Argentina in the Semi-final.
The Match:
Italy try to leave the Serie A footballing scandal behind them to concentrate on
qualification into the Second Round here in Hamburg.
As expected, Italy didn't give Czech Republic any early space and
Milan Baros tried hard to impress up front; perhaps a little too eager, as he committed a
number of fouls.
Pavel Nedved tested Gianluigi Buffon in the 12th minute, with a low
drive near the right post but his Juventus team-mate is probably used to those in
training. A similar shot, to the other post four minutes later, proved a little more
troublesome.
Alessandro Nesta had to limp off in the 17th minute, giving Milan
Baros a new, taller man-marker.
Ghana took the lead against the USA, which should make these teams
liven up.
And it did as substitute Marco Materazzi rose above the Czech defence
to head in Totti's corner in the 26th minute; made easier as no defenders were on the
post.
Czech Republic needed to do some serious re-thinking at half-time as
Milan Baros, lacking match practice, looked isolated up front and often crowded out by
Italians; when he did get the ball.
Karel Bruckner's problems were worsened when Jan Polak was sent off;
after getting his second yellow card, for tackling from behind.
Half-time: (0:1).
Petr Cech did well to turn Totti's shot around for a corner seven
minutes after the re-start. Then at the other end, Pavel Nedved burst forward to force a
good save from Gianluigi Buffon.
Halfway through the second-half, Italian substitute Filippo Inzaghi
almost made Czech Republic pay for a defensive clearance that bounced back into the area
but Petr Cech was out quick to narrow the angle.
Czech Republic sprang into life on the edge of the Italian area, with
twenty minutes to go, but again Buffon was equal to Nedved's shot.
Italy didn't really exert themselves but just did enough to qualify
for the Second Round and win the group in the process as Filippo Inzaghi walked the ball
around a sprawling Petr Cech to make sure.
Final Score:
Czech Republic 0 - Itay 2
Goalscorers:
0:1 Marco Materazzi (26)
0:2 Filippo Inzaghi (88)
Teams
Czech Republic:
1 Petr Cech; 2 Zdenek Grygera, 5 Radoslav Kovac, 6 Marek Jankulovski,
22 David Rozehnal; 8 Karel Poborsky, 10 Tomas Rosicky, 11 Pavel
Nedved, 19 Jan Polak, 20 Jaroslav Plasil; 15 Milan Baros.
Substitutions:
17 Mins (Italy) - 23 Marco Materazzi on for 13 Alessandro Nesta
46 Mins (Czech Republic) - 17 Jiri Stajner on for 8 Karel Poborsky
60 Mins (Italy) - 18 Filippo Inzaghi on for 11 Alberto Gilardino
64 Mins (Czech Republic) - 14 David Jarolim on for 15 Milan Baros
74 Mins (Italy) - 17 Simone Barone on for 16 Mauro Camoranesi
78 Mins (Czech Republic) - 18 Marek Heinz on for 5 Radoslav Kovac
3 Yellow
Cards:
31 Mins - Gennaro Gattuso (Italy)
35 Mins - Jan Polak (Czech Republic)
45 Mins - Jan Polak (Czech Republic)
