The Czech Republic can extend their unbeaten run to 21 matches in Dublin, but coach Karel BRÜCKNER's preparations have been disrupted by injuries, especially to midfield players. Captain Pavel Nedved told the press in Prague that he had considered withdrawing from the party because of a back problem that has meant taking pain-killing injections in order to play for Juventus in recent weeks. However, Nedved said he was grateful for the opportunity to "swap Juventus's problems for the winning spirit of the national team."
His presence in the squad is a boost for Bruckner, who is already missing two other midfield regulars, Sparta Prague's Karel Poborský and Borussia Dortmund's Tomás Rosický, through injury. Vladimír Šmicer of Liverpool is only just back in training after suffering an Achilles injury and misses the Ireland game. His probable replacement at Lansdowne Road is Monaco's Jaroslav Plašil, described by Brückner as "a similar type of player for the left flank".
Meanwhile another midfielder, Jirí Jarosík, withdrew from the squad to conentrate on winning a place in the starting line-up for his club, CSKA Moscow. "It's the first time in two years that a player has asked me to rest him because of club commitments," said Brückner, who was not happy about the request.
Sparta's central defender Tomás Hübchman has broken an arm so Bruckner has had to draft in Petr Voríšek, but goalkeeper Petr Cech returns to the squad following an elbow injury. He will probably face Ireland's Damien Duff, who will become his Chelsea team-mate when Cech reports for duty at Stamford Bridge in the summer following his £9 million transfer from Rennes.
Bruckner expects Cech to excel in the Premiership.
For Ireland, playing resources are also stretched ahead of this game. After training on Monday, midfield player Stephen McPhail and defender Andy O'Brien were added to an injury list that already includes David Connolly, Richard Dunne, Steve Finnan and Nick Colgan. With Sunderland pair Jason McAteer and Gary Breen also absent, along with John O'Shea of Manchester United, because of involvement in the coming weekend's FA Cup semi-finals, Irish manager Brian Kerr finds his options limited.
He has called up young defenders Stephen Kelly and John Thompson, with Tottenham's Gary Doherty likely to start alongside captain Kenny Cunningham, and Celtic's Old Trafford-bound forward Liam Miller in line for his debut.
Cunningham believes the Republic face a tougher test against the Czech than they did in last month's 0-0 draw with Brazil. He said of this game against the country with the best record in Europe: "It does not have the same appeal but I think they will be a sterner test than the Brazilians. They are very strong with a physical edge to them and are well organised."
Kerr has set three objectives for Ireland: "That I learn more about the players; we play well; and we get a good result. I would settle for those three.
"This is not one for throwing caution to the wind and throwing people into the match.
"We could approach it that way but when we are playing the best teams I think it is fair to the public that we try to put out as good a team as we possibly can."
FORM GUIDE:
Rep of Ireland (all competitions - oldest results first): WDDLWD
The only defeat in Ireland's recent record was the costly one in Switzerland (0-2) that confirmed they would not be participating at Euro 2004 in Portugal. Their five other most recent games included wins against Australia (2-1 h, friendly) and Canada (3-0 h, friendly), and three draws – against Russia (1-1 away, Euro qualifier), Turkey (2-2 home, friendly) and Brazil (0-0 home, friendly).
Czech Republic (all competitions - oldest results first): WWWWWD
The Czechs boast a superb record and go into this game on the back of a 2-2 draw with Italy that was preceded by five straight wins – against Moldova (5-0 h, Euro qualifier), Belarus (3-1 a, Euro), Netherlands (3-1 h, Euro), Austria (3-2 away, Euro), and Canada (5-1 h, friendly).
PROBABLE STARTING XIs:
Rep of Ireland: Given (Newcastle United), Carr (Tottenham Hotspur), Cunningham (Birmingham City), Doherty (Tottenham Hotspur), Harte (Leeds United), Reid (Nottingham Forest), Holland (Charlton Athletic), Kilbane (Everton), Duff (Chelsea), Keane (Tottenham Hotspur), Morrison (Birmingham City).
Czech Republic: Cezh (Rennes), Grygera (Ajax), Bolf (Banik Ostrava), Ujfalusi (Hamburg), Jankulovski (Udinese), Sionko (Sparta Prague), Galasek (Ajax), Nedved (Juventus), Stajner (Sparta Prague), Baros (Liverpool), Koller (Borussia Dortmund).