Karel Bruckner praised Cristiano Ronaldo after his Czech Republic side lost 3-1 to Portugal.

The Czechs’ second game of Euro 2008 was a close-fought encounter before Ronaldo turned the match in Portugal’s favour in the second half.

Ronaldo restored his team’s lead with a clinical finish on 63 minutes and set up substitute Ricardo Quaresma for the third in injury-time.

Czech coach Bruckner outlined the importance of Ronaldo’s contribution to Portugal’s Euro 2008 challenge.

Dangerous weapon

“I would like to congratulate our opponents, they played very well,” said Bruckner.

“Ronaldo is one of the best players in the world, he is a very dangerous weapon, but the Portugal team is not just about Ronaldo.

“They have an excellent passing game, but, yes, Portugal might be the best team of Euro 2008.”

Bruckner was pleased with his team’s performance, following the opening game win over co-hosts Switzerland, but also acknowledged Portugal’s quality on the counter-attack.

Amazing

He added: “I thought we played very well for long periods, but were beaten by a very talented side on top of their game. I made two changes to the team who beat Switzerland and took a pragmatic decision.

“Some players certainly did better in this match than in the Swiss game, but if we’re honest, we came up against a stronger side.

“I thought in the first half we proved we are a great team in both defence and attack.

“However, I think a few of our players began to tire in the second half and Portugal started to play almost perfect counter-attacking football. The way they build from defence to attack is amazing.”

Don’t underestimate the Czech Republic at next month’s European Championship.

At least that’s the message coach Karel Bruckner is trying to get across - despite the team’s successful past.

As Czechoslovakia, the country became European champion in 1976. Twenty years later, and playing as an independent nation, the Czech Republic stunned Italy, Portugal and France on the road to the final.

Four years ago, the Czechs won accolades for the attacking soccer that helped them reach the Euro 2004 semifinals after surprise wins over Germany and the Netherlands. A loss to eventual champion Greece in extra time was considered a disappointment for a national team whose performance was widely considered the best of all in Portugal.

This time, playing co-host Switzerland, Portugal and Turkey in Group A, the facts suggest a change.

The attack-minded midfield line led by Pavel Nedved, with Karel Poborsky and Vladimir Smicer, was able to outplay any opponent, but is almost all gone. Only defensive midfielder Tomas Galasek is still available after the Czechs lost playmaker Tomas Rosicky just weeks before the tournament in Austria and Switzerland.

With his brilliant technical skills and creativity, Rosicky has become the team’s undisputed leader after taking over the captaincy from Nedved, who retired from international soccer following the 2006 World Cup in Germany. But Rosicky had to undergo surgery on his injured left knee tendon on May 13 and will be out for up to 10 weeks.

For Bruckner, Rosicky’s absence is the worst-case scenario.

"The situation is certainly very unpleasant for us," Bruckner said. "We believed all the time that Tomas would be fine.

"I can’t conceal that it is a loss for us. We are weakened."

The absence of the key players of the past will affect the team’s trademark offensive play, Bruckner suggested after Nedved told him no about possibly coming back for Euro 2008.

"We have to face reality," Bruckner said. "We had to change something. We, perhaps, won’t be such an offensive, lethal force" as in Portugal.

"But don’t expect us to focus just on defending and rely on occasional counterattacks," Bruckner added. "I prefer offensive soccer."

You can trust him.

Bruckner took command after the Czechs failed to qualify for the 2002 World Cup and created what many observers have said was the most exiting Czech side ever.

Lauded for his analytical approach to soccer and his ability to motivate and unite players, Bruckner changed the team’s defensive style, which was successful at Euro 1996, into an attacking, entertaining approach. Good results followed, with the nation qualifying for all major international tournaments since.

At Euro 2008, Bruckner believes those who have been in the shade of former midfield stars have a chance to shine, including Marek Matejovsky of Reading, David Jarolim of Hamburg, Jaroslav Plasil of Osasuna or Jan Polak of Anderlecht.

"I would not underestimate the new players," he said.

Besides his midfield worries, Bruckner could also face problems in the attack.

His elite strikers - the towering Jan Koller and the quick Milan Baros - seem to be far from top form. The 35-year-old Koller may be the Czech Republic’s all-time leading scorer with 52 goals, but he has been struggling at FC Nuremberg since his January transfer from Monaco.

He still has a sure spot in the starting lineup of the national team.

"We simply know how to use him," Bruckner insisted.

At least the defensive line, porous at times in the past, seems to be in good shape, and the biggest news is that AC Milan left back Marek Jankulovski has finally recovered from last year’s knee surgery.

"The knee has been well recently and I feel good," Jankulovski said.

The defence’s centre is anchored by Tomas Ujfalusi of Fiorentina, who could be used also at right back. He is to be joined by Spartak Moscow’s Radoslav Kovac, who has recovered in time from a shoulder injury, or David Rozehnal of Lazio. Zdenek Grygera of Juventus is also available.

"The defenders have matured," Bruckner said.

The goal is protected by Petr Cech, one of the best goalkeepers in the world.

For Bruckner, Euro 2008 is one last chance to win a major tournament since he announced his decision to retire.

"I’m fit and ready," said a smiling Bruckner, who recovered just in time from a recent spinal operation.

A promising statement from a coach with 47 wins in 70 matches.

Czech Republic coach Karel Bruckner will retire from soccer after this year’s European Championship. The 68-year-old Bruckner said he will end his coaching career after the tournament, which his team begins with a first-round group containing Switzerland, Turkey and Portugal.

“I’ve decided to retire after the championship. Thirty four years of coaching are 34 years. That was enough” Bruckner said Thursday while announcing his squad for a friendly at Denmark next week.
Bruckner, lauded for his analytical approach to soccer, took over from Josef Chovanec after the Czechs failed to qualify for the 2002 World Cup, and has led the country to all major international tournaments since. When Bruckner took command, he rebuilt a fractious squad with low morale to create what many observers have said it most exiting Czech side ever.Bruckner changed the team’s defensive style into an attacking approach highly appreciated by fans, and good results followed. At the 2004 European Championship, the Czechs won cheers for their attacking soccer which brought surprise victories over Germany and the Netherlands during a run to the semifinals.The Czech Republic then qualified for its first World Cup as an independent nation and two years later reached another European Championship, which it opens on June 7 in Basel against co-host Switzerland.

“It would be a success to advance from the group,” Bruckner said Thursday.

Bruckner has won 47 and lost just 10 of his 69 matches in charge, although he didn’t lead the team for last month’s friendly against Poland because he was ill.No replacement was immediately announced.Bruckner coached several Czech and Slovak clubs since the 1970s, including a notable run to the 1992 UEFA Cup quarterfinals with Sigma Olomouc. He led the Czech Republic’s under-21 team to second place at the 2000 European Championship and was at the helm of the national side at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.