GOING into the second half they were one goal down, a short time later they were one man down.

STEVE STAUNTON’S dream of leading the Republic of Ireland to next summer’s Euro 2008 finals are effectively over after Marek Jankulovski’s first-half winner gave the Czech Republic an almost unassailable Group D advantage.

Steve Staunton's dream of leading the Republic of Ireland to next summer's Euro 2008 finals are effectively over after Marek Jankulovski's first-half winner gave the Czech Republic an almost unassailable Group D advantage.

As expected Steve Staunton made one change for a match the Republic of Ireland realistically needed to win in order to maintain their hopes of qualifying for the Euro 2008 finals.

SEVILLA, still grieving from the sudden death of midfielder Antonio Puerta, found themselves on the losing end of an incisive performance by European champions Milan in the UEFA Super Cup in Monaco last night.

AC Milan 3 Sevilla 1

Alex Ferguson took a calculated gamble in the San Siro tonight by naming Nemanja Vidic in the Manchester United starting line-up to face AC Milan in their Champions League semi-final.

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson made three changes to his side for this Champions League semi-final first leg match at Old Trafford.

AC MILAN coach Carlo Ancelotti admits an injury to Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand will play into his team’s hands for the Champions League semi-final.

Brazilian goalkeeper Dida has been included in AC Milan’s 25-man squad for Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final first leg against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

AC Milan 2 Bayern Munich 2

THE Czech Republic limped to a narrow victory over Cyprus thanks to a single goal from Jan Koller which took them back level with Germany at the top of Euro 2008 qualifying Group D.

AC Milan 1 Celtic 0

SAN MARINO fell to another humbling defeat, conceding their 20th goal in two Euro 2008 qualifiers as the Czech Republic ran out 7-0 winners in Liberec.

Czech Republic 0 Italy 2

CZECH REPUBLIC striker Milan Baros fears he will miss the entire World Cup with a foot injury.

WITH the sorry exception of those engrossed by the typically English-media saga of Wayne Rooney’s injured foot, most football fans here have been eagerly anticipating the World Cup for the football.

Robbie Fowler starts up front as Liverpool travel to Upton Park tonight.

Bayern Munich 1 AC Milan 1

Liverpool start Peter Crouch tonight, as Damien Duff returns from injury to start on the bench for Chelsea. Here are tonight's Champions League teams.

Tonight's Champions League teams.

AC Milan have signed Udinese left-back Marek Jankulovski on a four-year contract.

Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon today indicated the new Premiership champions would be looking to sign three players over the summer.

Greece 0 Czech Republic 0

Marek Jankulovski insists he will not shrink from the battle when he and his Czech team-mates face Greece in tonight’s Euro 2004 semi-final – even though a yellow card would rule him out of Sunday’s decider.

FORMER Czechoslovakia coach Jozef Venglos says the current Czech side have many qualities of the team he helped guide to the 1976 European Championship title.

Czech Republic coach Karel Bruckner insisted he has not been surprised by the performance of Euro 2004’s leading goalscorer Milan Baros as he prepares his troops for tomorrow’s semi-final with Greece at the Estadio do Dragao.

Czech Republic coach Karel Bruckner will draft Zdenek Grygera back into his starting line-up for the Euro 2004 semi-final with Greece at right-back in place of Martin Jiranek who had a groin strain in the 3-0 quarter-final victory over Denmark.

The Czech Republic have asked UEFA to reconsider the yellow card issued to their captain Pavel Nedved during the quarter-final against Denmark.

Czech Republic coach Karel Bruckner has two major defensive worries ahead of the Euro semi-final with Greece at the Estadio do Dragao on Thursday.

Teams for Holland v Latvis and Germany v Czech Republic

Czech Republic coach Karel Bruckner is set to rest some of his biggest names for tomorrow night’s Group D clash with Germany in Lisbon.

Czech Republic 3 Holland 2

Holland coach Dick Advocaat left out Rafael van der Vaart and Bolo Zenden from the team which drew with Germany on Tuesday in their opening Group D match.

Czech Republic 2 Latvia 1

Czech Republic 2 Latvia 1

LATVIA Coach Aleksandrs Starkovs is under no illusion about the importance of the Euro 2004 finals for the tiny Baltic nation.

Hearts defender Alan Maybury is the surprise choice in the Republic of Ireland side which line up for the friendly against the Czech Republic at Lansdowne Road tonight.