Cautious Smicer pinpoints defensive frailties

The Czech Republic have been installed as many people’s favourites for Euro 2004 as the big names continue to tumble out of the competition but midfielder Vladimir Smicer is concerned their challenge may falter because they do not know how to defend.

The Czechs have played some vibrant football and were the only team among the 16 finalists to win all three group games, which was some achievement as they were drawn in what was widely recognised as the competition’s “group of death”.

Even what was effectively a reserve team beat Germany 2-1 in the last match and now with France, England, Spain and Italy all having joined the Germans in being eliminated many are making the Czechs the new tournament favourites.

Looking ahead to Sunday’s battle with Denmark in the quarter-final at the Estadio do Dragao, with Greece awaiting the winners, Smicer said: “The game with Denmark is a very dangerous one for us.

“We are much better attacking than defending and we will try and use this weapon. Our defence is our biggest weakness.”

The Liverpool player believes the Danes have a real attacking threat and said: “Jon Dahl Tomasson is their key player but there are also Jesper Gronkjaer, Martin Jorgensen and Dennis Rommedahl.”

Giant goalkeeper Petr Cech, whose move to Chelsea from Rennes will go through on July 1, said: “They (Denmark) are very solid in defence but also very dangerous in attack.

“We will have to present a very strong defence. Our game is an attacking one and we must make our best use of it to try and reach our goal.”

The Czechs, who have now been joined by their wives and children in Portugal, are widely considered to have the best midfield in the tournament with three artists in Karel Poborsky, Tomas Rosicky and Pavel Nedved with some steel provided by Tomas Galasek.