Republic of Ireland boss Steve Staunton admitted Ireland's European Championship qualifying hopes were effectively over after his side suffered a 1-0 defeat to the Czech Republic in Prague.

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.

KAREL BRUCKNER is a man under pressure and it shows. He spent 28 minutes speaking to the media at Sparta Prague’s Axa Arena, most of it accompanied by deep sighs and withering looks.

Lee Carsley has urged his Republic of Ireland team-mates to seize upon a Czech Republic striker crisis and take a huge step towards European Championship qualification in Prague tomorrow night.

CZECH REPUBLIC striker Jan Koller has been ruled out of Wednesday’s Euro 2008 qualifying clash against the Republic of Ireland through suspension.

THE Czech Republic have called up two of the heroes of Slavia Prague’s Champions’ League qualifying team for the European Championship games against the Republic of Ireland and San Marino.

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.

GERMAN coach Joachim Low believes his country made a “giant stride” towards qualification for Euro 2008 with their impressive 2-1 away victory against Group D rivals, Czech Republic, on Saturday.

GERMAN captain Michael Ballack insisted yesterday his side are only thinking of victory over the Czech Republic in Prague this afternoon to stay top of Euro 2008 qualifying Group D.

Czech Republic coach Karel Bruckner has called up Tomas Rosicky for the forthcoming Euro 2008 qualifiers, apparently convinced the Arsenal midfielder is over his recent groin strain.

Rep of Ireland 1 Czech Republic 1

Under-fire Republic of Ireland manager Steve Staunton was forced to make major changes to his side for tonight’s Euro 2008 qualifier against the Czech Republic.

CZECH REPUBLIC captain Tomas Rosicky has backed his team’s strikers to regain their confidence in tonight’s Group D home fixture against San Marino ahead of Wednesday’s trip to Lansdowne Road.

Czech Republic 0 Italy 2

Giant Czech striker Jan Koller’s World Cup is not over after scans revealed the thigh injury picked up in Monday’s win over the United States is not as serious as was first feared.

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

United States 0 Czech Republic 3

CZECH REPUBLIC playmaker Tomas Rosicky is ready to resume training.

Czech Republic playmaker Tomas Rosicky is scheduled to restart training with the rest of team today.

FORMER Liverpool midfielder Vladimir Smicer has admitted defeat in his battle to be fit for the World Cup.

Former Liverpool midfielder Vladimir Smicer has admitted defeat in his battle to make the World Cup.

Czech Republic boss Karel Bruckner is breathing a sigh of relief after it emerged midfielder Tomas Rosicky’s thigh injury is not serious.

Arsenal look set to sign Czech Republic midfielder Tomas Rosicky from Borussia Dortmund.

BORUSSIA DORTMUND midfielder Tomas Rosicky has had a medical at Arsenal according to Czech Republic coach Karel Bruckner.

There were few surprises as Czech Republic boss Karel Bruckner named his 23-man squad for this summer’s World Cup.

Aston Villa’s Milan Baros has been included in the 23-man squad Czech Republic squad for the forthcoming World Cup play-offs against Norway.

Czech Republic striker Milan Baros is desperate to be fit for his side’s crucial World Cup qualifier against Finland in Helsinki.

DESPITE being held to a 1-1 draw in Georgia on Saturday, Ukraine became the first European nation to qualify for the next year’s World Cup.

SVEN-Goran Eriksson insisted David Beckham would prove he is 'not finished' as an England player in tonight's friendly against Holland.

CELTIC have been warned the value of Marek Heinz has doubled following his success with the Czech Republic at Euro 2004.

Czech defender Vaclav Drobny will be looking forward to a stress-free trial with Aston Villa after a traumatic 2003/04 campaign during which he tested positive for morphine.

Sven-Goran Eriksson’s side may be out of Euro 2004 but there is still one table at the tournament he tops.

Greece coach Otto Rehhagel revealed he is a big fan of Czech Republic counterpart Karel Bruckner as his side prepares to tackle the new tournament favourites in tonight’s semi-final at the Estadio do Dragao.

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.

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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.

Sven-Goran Eriksson’s Euro 2004 may be out of Euro 2004 but there is still one table at the tournament he still tops.

Greece striker Demis Nikolaidis believes the Euro 2004 surprise packages will seize their “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity and claim a place in the final by beating the Czech Republic tomorrow.

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.