Koller picks up Czechs in Denmark

Denmark 1-1 Czech Republic
Jan Koller ended his goal drought with a trademark header as UEFA EURO 2008™ finalists the Czech Republic battled back to earn a friendly draw against Denmark in Herning.

Record strike
Nicklas Bendtner opened the scoring for the home side on 25 minutes but Koller equalised with his first goal in eight games in all competitions three minutes before the break. It was Koller's record 52nd strike for his country and will provide a timely lift for a player who joined 1. FC Nürnberg from AS Monaco FC in January.

Injuries take toll
The Czech Republic clearly missed injured playmaker Tomáš Rosický and goalkeeper Petr Čech, and coach Karel Brückner also had to improvise in defence with Zdeněk Grygera and Radoslav Kováč sidelined. In addition, Marek Jankulovski watched from the stands after Brückner decided against risking a recurrence of his thigh injury in sub-zero temperatures. Zdeněk Pospěch and Michal Kadlec were given rare outings and, not surprisingly perhaps, the visiting defenders looked vulnerable early on.

Breakthrough
Koller's Nürnberg team-mate Jaromír Blažek started in goal in place of Čech and was beaten midway through the first half when Bendtner exchanged a neat one-two with Thomas Kristensen before breaking the deadlock. Morten Olsen's men almost doubled their advantage five minutes later but this time Blažek's fine reflex save with his leg kept out Kristensen's 20-metre strike.

Missed chances 
The Czechs were level on 42 minutes when Koller, who had also scored against Denmark in the UEFA EURO 2004™ quarter-finals, nodded in Libor Sionko's cross. Yet Brückner's team, drawn to face Portugal, co-hosts Switzerland and Turkey at this summer's championship, were unable to take their chances to win the game in the second half – David Jarolím and David Rozehnal going particularly close. They will have further opportunities to sharpen up in May against Lithuania and Scotland.