Six Czech Republic stars indefinitely suspended following prostitute scandal

The shit really seems to be hitting the fan in Czech football at the moment. National manager of only eight games Petr Rada was sacked yesterday, following a 2-1 defeat to neighbouring Slovakia that has put their World Cup Qualification plans into jeopardy.

“Because of the current environment in the Federation and the media, I don’t want to represent the country anymore,” said Rada, clearly not realising that he did not have a say in the matter.

Rada’s ungracious exit was not helped by the extracurricular activities of his players. Following the Slovakia defeat, six Czech players were photographed entering a restaurant by Czech tabloid Blesk. Shortly after, a taxi pulled up, containing three ladies of the night. The party were snapped leaving the restaurant at 6.30 the following morning.

The shamed footballers are Atletico Madrid defender Tomas Ujfalusi, West Ham’s Radoslav Kovac, Reading midfielder Marek Matejovsky, Martin Fenin (Eintracht Frankfurt), Vaclav Sverkos (Sochaux) and former Liverpool star Milan Baros. All six have been indefinitely suspended from the national team.

Fenin protested his innocence by claiming “The lady was an acquaintance,” in the Czech press, and Ujfalusi has announced his retirement from international football, citing the Czech Football Federation and the critical media.

The replacement coach may have the choice to reinstate the players for their next international match in June, but it looks likely that he will have to build an entirely new team.

Gerros's Seventh Heaven

Steven Gerrard has challenged England to make it a Magnificent Seven in their World Cup campaign.

But to do so he has reminded that they need to keep going until England’s last game against Andorra on June 10 — and not shut down when their club season has finished. Fabio Capello’s side have made a record-breaking start to their World Cup qualifying, but winning five in a row after their 2-1 win over the Ukraine.

And with Kazakhstan away and Andorra at home to come in June, it could be a healthy maximum of seven straight wins.

READ MORE>>

Fabio Capello Resigns As Kevin Keegan Is Appointed England Coach

An alcohol-fuelled night out saw several England stars arrested and injured, leading to Fabio Capello resigning as manager this morning, with a crucial World Cup qualification clash against Ukraine to be played this evening at Wembley.

The Italian took over as coach in January 2008 with his objective being to qualify England for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and establish the Three Lions as an international superpower.

His tenure began well and he remained undefeated in competitive fixtures. However, he has long been an opponent of the drinking culture in England, and an incredible night on the town that resulted in the arrest of seven players and serious injuries sustained by both Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard led him to a dramatic and sudden resignation.

Read more..

Rooney and Gerrard show their class

Fabio Capello never had any doubts he could get the best out of Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard for England.

With Gerrard in such scintillating form for Liverpool, where he effectively fills the same space 'in the hole' as Rooney, it was feared Capello, like Sven-Goran Eriksson and Steve McClaren before him, may lose something from one in order to get the best out of the other.

Previously Frank Lampard has been the man Gerrard has found his immense talent sacrificed for. Clearly though, Capello has an insight which evaded his predecessors.

For, just as in Belarus last October, Gerrard was offered licence to roam in from the left against Slovakia last night, smoothly interchanging positions with Rooney at regular intervals.

Read more..

Stevie looks the part in Fab revolution

LIVERPOOL'S thoroughbred is no longer wasted as England's workhorse. Steven Gerrard has spent most of his career as the heartbeat of Anfield but frustratingly limited to being the lungs for his country.

He has tended to be stuck wherever the side looks most lop-sided. The sight of him patrolling the left flank at the Wembley line-up was enough to make you wonder if Fabio Capello had watched Liverpool play recently. There should be no such fears about Capello's wisdom.

England finally have a coach who recognises Gerrard's capacity to influence his country in the same way his dynamism inspires his club.

Seeing him dispatched to the left makes it easy to dismiss his role as little more than a trapeze artist, a player providing balance in an otherwise limited team. Under the rigid formations of Sven Goran Eriksson and Steve McClaren, such concerns were justified.They were either unwilling or unable to find the position for Gerrard to thrive, or to bring the best out of those around him.

Forget that under Capello. There's a fluidity about the system under the Italian, ensuring Gerrard should no longer feel stifled by a seemingly unfamiliar position. In keeping with the retro style of England's new shirts, Gerrard is best described as an 'inside left' rather than a left midfielder.