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Journalism of Courage
Czech Republic goalkeeper Petr Cech, the 22-year-old who is joining Chelsea after Euro 2004, knows they must avoid complacency against outsiders Latvia in their opening Group D clash in Aveiro on Tuesday.
Once one of the most consistently skilful nations in European soccer, the Czechs want to make up for their flop in the finals four years ago by emerging successfully from a tough group that also includes Germany and the Netherlands. Until they went out at the group stage in Euro 2000, the Czechs had never been lower than third at any of the European Championship finals they had qualified for after being champions in 1976, third in 1960 and 1980 and runners-up in 1996. Now, with several of the older generation from the ‘team of the 90’s’ heading for retirement, they hope to realise their great potential with a trophy. A flying start against surprise Baltic qualifiers Latvia, in the first official competitive meeting between the two nations, is expected. But Cech, like captain and key forward Pavel Nedved, has warned against taking the Latvians lightly.
