World Cup 2006 Draw (25 Viewers)
- Thread starter Rami
- Start date
Smicer: 'It's 50-50 for everyone'
"I think it's a very tough group, because all four teams have a good chance of qualifying for the next round," said the Bordeaux midfielder.
"We know about Italy, but Ghana is one of the best teams in Africa and the US improve every year. I have to see more games and then I'll know more about our chances, but I think it's a very tough group and the chances are 50-50 for everybody."
He added: "But it's normal, we're playing at the World Cup so it's normal that you are in a difficult group."
After an opening game against the United States, the Czechs face Ghana before a potentially all-important last-game clash with Italy in Hamburg.
But Smicer said colliding with the group's other superpower in the third game - rather than the first - was to his team's advantage by giving them a chance to gain a foothold in the competition.
"I think it's good we're playing Italy in the last game. The first game is very important, I think it's very, very important," said Smicer.
'NEDVED MAKES US STRONGER'
"It doesn't matter if you're playing the favourite or the worst team in the group, but it's important to start the tournament well.
"So we'll be focussing mainly on the first game and then we will see after that. The first game is the most important."
And with Juventus midfielder Pavel Nedved bringing himself out of international retirement to inspire his side in the play-off win over Norway to achieve a place in Germany, Smicer says the team has its heartbeat back.
"Of course he's a very important player for us. He's a big character, the confidence he gives us and we feel stronger with him," he said of Nedved, who quit the Czech team after Euro 2004.
"It was very important he came back against Norway. He must be very happy playing against Italy, so we can use his experience. And we've got [Tomas] Ujfalusi and [Marek] Jankulovski playing in Italian football and that can only help us."
BRAZIL LURKING
But Smicer recognised that - with the Group E runner-up playing the winner of Group F, containing defending champions and overwhelming favourites Brazil - the showdown with Italy could be decisive for the fate of the two countries.
"It's not a good draw for us from this point of view as we could play Brazil," admitted Smicer. "Maybe it could be very important playing Italy in the last game as we could be playing for first place in the group.
"At the moment, it looks like even second place is not good enough. It looks like only first place is going to be important. So from this point of view, this draw is even harder now."
Eurosport - Ian Holyman 09/12/2005
"I think it's a very tough group, because all four teams have a good chance of qualifying for the next round," said the Bordeaux midfielder.
"We know about Italy, but Ghana is one of the best teams in Africa and the US improve every year. I have to see more games and then I'll know more about our chances, but I think it's a very tough group and the chances are 50-50 for everybody."
He added: "But it's normal, we're playing at the World Cup so it's normal that you are in a difficult group."
After an opening game against the United States, the Czechs face Ghana before a potentially all-important last-game clash with Italy in Hamburg.
But Smicer said colliding with the group's other superpower in the third game - rather than the first - was to his team's advantage by giving them a chance to gain a foothold in the competition.
"I think it's good we're playing Italy in the last game. The first game is very important, I think it's very, very important," said Smicer.
'NEDVED MAKES US STRONGER'
"It doesn't matter if you're playing the favourite or the worst team in the group, but it's important to start the tournament well.
"So we'll be focussing mainly on the first game and then we will see after that. The first game is the most important."
And with Juventus midfielder Pavel Nedved bringing himself out of international retirement to inspire his side in the play-off win over Norway to achieve a place in Germany, Smicer says the team has its heartbeat back.
"Of course he's a very important player for us. He's a big character, the confidence he gives us and we feel stronger with him," he said of Nedved, who quit the Czech team after Euro 2004.
"It was very important he came back against Norway. He must be very happy playing against Italy, so we can use his experience. And we've got [Tomas] Ujfalusi and [Marek] Jankulovski playing in Italian football and that can only help us."
BRAZIL LURKING
But Smicer recognised that - with the Group E runner-up playing the winner of Group F, containing defending champions and overwhelming favourites Brazil - the showdown with Italy could be decisive for the fate of the two countries.
"It's not a good draw for us from this point of view as we could play Brazil," admitted Smicer. "Maybe it could be very important playing Italy in the last game as we could be playing for first place in the group.
"At the moment, it looks like even second place is not good enough. It looks like only first place is going to be important. So from this point of view, this draw is even harder now."
Eurosport - Ian Holyman 09/12/2005