Smicer misses World Cup
Czech won't play due to injury
Thu, June 1, 2006
Czech Republic midfielder Vladimir Smicer will miss the World Cup due to a hamstring injury. PRAGUE,
Czech Republic (AP) - Czech Republic midfielder Vladimir Smicer is out of the World Cup after failing to recover from a hamstring injury.
The Bordeaux player consulted team doctors and coach Karel Bruckner before announcing his decision Thursday.
"We came to a conclusion that, unfortunately, my condition makes it impossible for me to travel to the World Cup and help the team," Smicer said. "It's impossible to cure the leg (in time)."
Smicer said he hadn't been able to train fully for the World Cup, which begins June 9 in Germany.
"The doctors and I were not able to guarantee that I would be fit during the World Cup," he said. "I had no other choice. Now, I have to fully recover first, rest, and get ready for the next season."
Team spokesman Lukas Tucek said Libor Sionko of Glasgow Rangers would replace Smicer on the roster.
Sionko joined the squad at its training camp in Seefeld, Austria, last week and played in the second half of Tuesday's warm-up against Costa Rica.
Tucek earlier said that Sparta Prague midfielder Tomas Sivok will also join the team Thursday.
Teams can change their rosters 24 hours before playing their World Cup opening game.
The Czechs face the United States on June 12, before playing Ghana and Italy.
The 33-year-old Smicer, who has scored 27 goals in 81 matches for the Czech Republic, hasn't played since being injured with Bordeaux in February.
"It makes no sense to go to the World Cup after not playing a game for three months," Smicer said. "It certainly is a great disappointment for me."
But Smicer said he was not planning to retire from international soccer.
"I'm looking forward to next season with Bordeaux ... and when I play well it's not a problem for me to continue in the national team," said Smicer.
Czech Republic playmaker Tomas Rosicky, who sat out the friendly against Costa Rica due to a thigh injury was in better condition Thursday, team doctor Jiri Fousek said.
Fousek said Rosicky will not play Saturday "to make sure" he will be fit for the World Cup opener.
Also, captain Tomas Galasek, who has a knee injury, will miss Saturday's game, but is expected to be ready for the World Cup.