Czechs prepare secret weapon

Aveiro showdown
The secretive behaviour of the Czechs has only added to the interest surrounding this potentially decisive Group D fixture, and the Dutch could be in for an unpleasant surprise when the teams meet in Aveiro. It is believed the Czechs worked mainly on set-pieces, but no one will know until Saturday.

Bolf worry
Some news did filter out from the Czech camp, however, and defender René Bolf is still feeling the effects of the knee sprain he suffered in Tuesday's 2-1 win against Latvia, although his inclusion in the side against the Netherlands should not be in danger.

Grygera problem
Another defender, Zdenek Grygera, has had to go to hospital with swollen salivary glands, but Czech team doctor Petr Krejcí does not think that the AFC Ajax player runs any risk of missing Saturday's match. "This is something very unique and they have had to clean his glands at the hospital," he said.

Trip north
The Czech party will leave the Penha Longa hotel on Friday morning for their second trip north. Brückner has not showed his players any tapes of the Dutch team yet, although they should be familiar with the Netherlands having encountered them twice in EURO 2004™ qualifying Group 3.

Secret weapon
The first game in Rotterdam in March 2003 ended in a 1-1 draw thanks to Jan Koller's second-half equaliser, while the Czechs won the Prague return 3-1 last September with goals from Koller, Karel Poborský and Milan Baroš. Now they aim to maintain that supremacy at the Estádio Municipal de Aveiro.