Comments for World Cup disappointment for the Czech Republic at http://www.wsc.co.uk , comment 0 to 5 out of 5 comments http://www.wsc.co.uk Mon, 13 Feb 2012 08:53:32 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.wsc.co.uk/content/view/3889/38/#pc_1004 ABB- they were just as lethargic in the first hour. No doubt that the best two sides progressed from the group. - Duncan Gardner Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:04:06 +0100 http://www.wsc.co.uk/content/view/3889/38/#pc_1002 I saw the majority of the second half of Czech Rep v Norn Iron after our game had ended. Don't know what the Czechs were like in the first 60 minutes, but during those final 30 they were pretty awful -- no drive and no real idea of what they were supposed to be doing. They've fallen a long way in the last five years. - Analogue Bubblebath Thu, 15 Oct 2009 21:17:41 +0100 http://www.wsc.co.uk/content/view/3889/38/#pc_1001 Half empty stadium? More like three-quarters. On BBC NI's coverage our 2,167 fans were clearly louder. Rosicky's absence doesn't explain a lethargic campaign- Czechia will always have a much stronger squad than Slovenia or NI at any given moment. Even the post-match lapdance scandal was hardly unique, both our guys and the Poles had to be disciplined for breaking curfew to go on the piss. Anyway, come on Slovakia, and Slovenia in the play off. - Duncan Gardner Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:37:33 +0100 http://www.wsc.co.uk/content/view/3889/38/#pc_999 I like Rosicky as a player and I'm glad that he's playing again. Unfortunately, he made a few childish remarks about the Slovak team after the Czechs beat Poland. He said that if he had been healthy, Slovakia wouldn't have had a chance. Maybe he was right, but it showed a lack of sportsmanship. I don't know if these results represent a shift in the Czech-Slovak soccer power structure. But Slovakia has at least 4 promising young players. Skrtel proved himself last year with Liverpool, but is struggling to do as well this year. Marek Hamsik is one of the top young players in Italy. Miro Stoch, is playing for FC Twente (on loan from Chelsea) and has been named "Man of the Match" three times this year and Vlado Weiss Jr. (Manchester City) provided Slovakia with a jolt of energy. Finally, I don't know if the 1978 Czechoslovak team that won the European Champions had a better midfield than the 2004 Czech team, but it's interesting to note that 9 of the 11 starters on that team were Slovaks - palko Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:18:08 +0100 http://www.wsc.co.uk/content/view/3889/38/#pc_998 A shame to see the Czechs in decline as they really were a wonderful side to watch in the first half of the decade. There were few better midfields than that of Jankukovski, Nedved, Galasek, Rosicky and Poborsky. They were, IMO, the outstanding side of Euro 2004 and would more than likely have put out Greece if it weren't for the injury to Nedved. Still, does the qualification of Slovakia signal a significant shift of power in the former Czechoslovakia? The Slovaks don't seem (to this casual observer) much more than a fairly functional, workmanlike side and don't seem to have the flair of Czech sides down the years. - t.j.vickerman Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:30:47 +0100