Czechs look beyond Germany

Germany appeared to be the last thing on Czech minds today as Karel Brückner's side contemplated potential quarter-final opponents ahead of their final Group D game at the Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon on Wednesday.

Respect for Italy
With two wins from two games the Czech Republic will finish top of the group regardless of the result against Germany, and they will play the runners-up from Group C in the last eight - either Italy, Denmark or Sweden. By general consensus the Italians are the side they would least like to face in Porto next Sunday.

'Hard to chose'
"It's hard to choose, but I don't want to meet Italy so early," said captain Pavel Nedved. The Juventus FC midfield player is one of three members of the Czech squad who plays in Italy, and Udinese Calcio left-back Marek Jankulovski concurred with his international captain.

'Solid defence'
"They have a solid defence and very dangerous strikers - and they know how to play such knockout games," said Jankulovski, who will face Germany with his beard dyed the colours of the Czech flag - red, white and blue.

Hair bet
"It's a bet, and I have to keep my word," Jankulovski explained with a smile. And he won't be the only Czech player applying colour for the occasion - Reggina Calcio defender Martin Jiránek already plays with a red tint in his hair.

Threat
Although Italy are presently third in Group C behind Sweden and Denmark, midfield player Vladimír Smicer still believes Giovanni Trapattoni's side carry the greatest threat. "They are still the great favourites despite drawing their first two games," the Liverpool FC midfield player said. "They were unlucky against Sweden [to draw 1-1]. I like how they play, but not being on the opposite side."

Palermo draw
Smicer missed the last meeting between the two sides - a friendly in Palermo in February when Tomás Rosický's late goal earned the Czech Republic a 2-2 draw. The Czechs' last match against Sweden was a 3-3 thriller in Teplice in November 2002, but they have bitter memories of their last meeting with Denmark, a 2-1 defeat in a 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifier that cost them a place in the finals.

'Must beat everybody'
Only the in-form Milan Baroš - scorer of the sensational equaliser against the Netherlands on Saturday - appeared unconcerned about whom his side will face after Germany. "If we want to win here, we must beat everybody," the Liverpool striker said.