Beenhakker positive in loss
Czech Republic 3 / Trinidad and Tobago 0
Stephen Morissey at Toota ArenaSunday Herald You had to admire the attitude of Trinidad and Tobago’s Dutch coach Leo Beenhakker, if little else, after this comprehensive defeat for his Soca Warriors.
With their World Cup finals debut just a week away, a third consecutive friendly defeat – this time to the consistently crafty Czech Republic – would be enough to make most managers a mite tetchy. Not so the phlegmatic doyen of the Caribbean side.
“My players are not used to this way of football, to football they especially play here in Europe,” said the Beenhaaker, seemingly oblivious to the fact that a large portion of his side play for clubs in Great Britain – that oft-forgotten segment of the continent.“It's much more faster and much more physical than they're normally used in their clubs.
“But I prefer to have the problems now ... I prefer that [my players] are surprised now instead of next week after the Sweden match.”
The man makes a fine point but after losing 2-1 to Wales and 3-1 to Slovenia, avoiding defeat here would have brought succour ahead of their opening match against experienced operators Sweden. Ultimately, though, stemming the flow of Czech goals after three was a good afternoon’s work for his one-paced and ageing side.
Under pressure from the off, the only real opportunity for the visitors’ came on the counter in the early stages, when Stern John managed to force Chelsea custodian Petr Cech into a blocking save. That apart, the hosts dominated – aided by some inept defending, a fact Beenhakker admitted.
“They scored the goals and we prepared the goals,” he said, adding his team still has a chance to improve. “I can assure you we've learned a lot. If it's enough, we will see.”
Rangers new signing Libor Sionko played a half after being called into the Czech squad as a replacement for the injured Vladimir Smicer but it was Jan Koller, recently returned after a season-long hiatus with a knee problem, who stole the show for the hosts.
The veteran striker – the heaviest player in the 32 finals squads and taller than Peter Crouch – scored twice and set up another in a dominant display. Just six minutes had elapsed when the Czech Republic's all-time leading scorer nodded in a delicious Karel Poborsky cross to break the seal on the contest and by the mid-point of the half, he offered colleague Pavel Nedved the opportunity to add to the goalscoring.
Collecting the ball from Milan Baros with his back to goal inside the area, he flicked a precise pass to Nedved, who volleyed past diving goalkeeper Kelvin Jack.
Koller’s second, five minutes from half-time, was the pick of the bunch. Nedved started the action, releasing Poborsky, and when he crossed low, the striker ended the contest.
04 June 2006
