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HAMBURG, June 21: Italy, who need a point to be sure of a place in the second round of the World Cup, meet familiar and formidable opponents in Group E rivals Czech Republic on Thursday.
Former European Footballer of the Year Pavel Nedved has won three Italian titles with Juventus and Lazio while his Czech team mate Marek Jankulovski has had six seasons in Serie A with AC Milan and Udinese.
The pair are important to their team's counter attacking game, with Nedved's bursts from midfield and long-range shooting feared by Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro.
“Pavel is an annoying player to play against,” said Cannavaro, who plays alongside Nedved at Juventus.
“He has great spirit, sets an example to team mates, has real inner-strength and plays with passion. He is a genuine professional and a player to fear,” Cannavaro told reporters.
Italy lead the group on four points with the Czechs, who need a win to be sure of going through, on three points along with Ghana.
Jankulovski, Nedved and suspended Fiorentina defender Tomas Ujfalusi have been feeding coach Karel Brueckner with information on the Italian players.
“The coach asked the three of us who play in Serie A advice about Marcello Lippi's team and we provided him plenty of it,” said Jankulovski. “We have a lot to play for and are well aware of the difficulty of the task ahead.
“After six years of playing in Italy I can't deny this game has a special flavour for me,” said the Milan wing back.
Czech striker Jan Koller is injured and his replacement Vratislav Lokvenc is suspended.
But the Czechs received a boost with the news Milan Baros may be fit for Thursday's game.
“We haven't had a lot of luck on the injury front and obviously it would be very good for us if we could field Baros,” said Jankulovski.
Martin Jiranek or Radoslav Kovac will stand in for Ujfalusi in defence.
Italy's selection problems are more in midfield where Daniele De Rossi is suspended following his red card in the 1-1 draw with United States and Simone Perrotta is struggling with a leg injury.
Lippi may push fullback Gianluca Zambrotta into midfield but must wait for tests on striker Alberto Gilardino (sore ankle).
Probable teams:
CZECH REPUBLIC (4-4-2): 1-Petr Cech; 2-Zdenek Grygera, 6-Marek Jankulovski, 22-David Rozehnal, 13-Martin Jiranek; 4-Tomas Galasek, 11-Pavel Nedved, 8-Karel Poborsky, 10-Tomas Rosicky; 18-Marek Heinz, 15-Milan Baros.
Coach: Karel Brueckner.
ITALY (4-4-2): 1-Gianluigi Buffon; 2-Cristian Zaccardo, 13-Alessandro Nesta, 5-Fabio Cannavaro, 3-Fabio Grosso; 21-Andrea Pirlo, 8-Gennaro Gattuso, 19-Gianluca Zambrotta, 10-Francesco Totti; 9-Luca Toni, 11-Alberto Gilardino.
Coach Marcello Lippi
Referee: Benito Archundia (Mexico).—Reuters
