Curtain call
Filed Under Country Curtain | Posted on March 27, 2008
When the managers of the national soccer team staged a routine media conference
March 20 in Prague before a friendly game against Denmark, they had some important news to share. Little did they know, however, that their announcement would be immediately overshadowed.
After an absence of more than 10 years, the national team will make an appearance this summer at London’s Wembley Stadium, one of the world’s top arenas, in a game against England, the Czech Football Association (?MFS) officials announced March 20.
Still, it was Karel Brückner, the team’s head coach and an icon of Czech soccer, who attracted the most attention moments later.
“The match [against England] is not going to be my business,†Brückner said. “In fact, it’s very unlikely I’ll continue guiding the national team after Euro 2008. I’ve decided to quit as the team’s head coach after the tournament. Having spent the past 34 years coaching, I think it’s time to leave. I’ve thought this through and I think it’s a correct and final decision.â€
Brückner’s departure this summer will mark the end of an era for the team, one that began when he took over in 2002, after his predecessor, Jozef Chovanec, failed to guide the team to the World Cup that year.
Since then, Brückner has become the country’s undisputed leader in all things soccer, with his national team career peaking in the Euro 2004 finals in Portugal. The team’s impressive campaign was halted by Greece in the semifinals, but the coach was celebrated as a national hero upon his return to the country.
Under Brückner, the national team has been rock stable. He is the first coach to successfully lead the team through every major qualification round it has taken part in.
Although the Czechs had to undergo a dramatic playoff round against Norway in the 2006 World Cup qualifiers, they still made the tournament after a 16-year absence. Once at the World Cup, in Germany, the team faltered, beating the United States but losing to Ghana and Italy, resulting in its elimination during the group phase.
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