Czechs remind Venglos of the '76 champions

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.

Venglos, a Slovak, was on the bench in Belgrade working alongside Czech coach Vaclav Jezek when Czechoslovakia beat West Germany on penalties in the 1976 final.

Eight of that Czechoslovak team were Slovaks with six of the players coming from the Slovan Bratislava side then coached by Venglos.

Their triumph was largely the result of an extensive youth development system and Venglos says Karel Brueckner's side at Euro 2004 is reaping the benefits of a similar approach.

"The Czechs have shown good continuity from the processes of Czechoslovakia," Venglos said. "They are very good at a youth level playing in a lot of tournaments at home and abroad. Now they have a very strong group of quality players with a very experienced and good coach."

The Czechoslovak champions of 1976, in line with the approach throughout the communist Eastern bloc, refused to allow players to move to foreign clubs. Venglos says Czech football is now getting added value from the free movement of players.

Central defender Rene Bolf has been passed fit for tonight's Euro 2004 semi-final against Greece but Brueckner is still waiting on right-back Martin Jiranek.

"Bolf is ready to play but there is still a question over Jiranek," Brueckner admitted.

Both players picked up injuries in Sunday's quarter-final victory over Denmark but it is Jiranek's thigh muscle problem that has been causing most concern in the Czech camp.

If Jiranek does not recover in time then Zdenek Grygera is expected to return at right back.

Probable teams:

Greece (4-4-2): Nikopolidis; Seitaridis, Kapsis, Dellas, Fyssas; Giannakopoulos, Karagounis, Basinas, Zagorakis; Vryzas, Charisteas.

Czech Republic (4-4-2): Cech; Grygera, Ujfalusi, Bolf, Jankulovski; Poborsky, Galasek, Rosicky, Nedved; Baros, Koller.