FIFA World Cup Germany 2006
Czechs finish warm-up in style
Ap, undated
Jan Koller scored two goals and set up another Saturday to lead the Czech Republic over Trinidad and Tobago 3-0 in their final warm-up match before the World Cup. Koller, the Czech Republic's all-time leading scorer, scored his 41st and 42nd goals for his country, both in the first half. In the sixth minute, he headed in Karel Poborsky's cross from close range. Koller, who returned to the national team in a friendly against Costa Rica on Tuesday after he missed almost the entire season with a knee injury, last scored for the national team in an exhibition game against Sweden on Aug. 17, 2005. In the 22nd minute, Koller took the ball from Milan Baros with his back to the net inside the penalty area and sent a precise pass to Pavel Nedved, who volleyed it past diving goalkeeper Kelvin Jack. Koller added his second five minutes from halftime. Nedved started the action in the middle, sending a through pass to Poborsky, who fed Koller with a low cross. The tall striker's low shot from close range found the back of the net. Koller, who scored nine goals in World Cup qualifying, was applauded by 15,910 fans at Sparta Prague's Letna Stadium when he was replaced by Vratislav Lokvenc in the 61st. It was the third defeat in a row for 47th-ranked Trinidad and Tobago, who lost to Wales 2-1 and to Slovenia 3-1. The Czech Republic beat Saudi Arabia 2-0 and Costa Rica 1-0 in its warm-ups. Under pressure throughout the game, the visitors came close on a counterattack in the 14th minute when Stern John beat the Czech defence and forced goalkeeper Petr Cech to make a blocking save. Koller's return to form was good news for Czech Republic coach Karel Bruckner, who still had injury worries and was not able to field his favourite starting line-up. Czech Republic playmaker Tomas Rosicky again sat out with a thigh injury. Bruckner rested Rosicky to make sure he will be fit for the World Cup opener against the United States on June 12. Also, Czech Republic captain Tomas Galasek didn't play Saturday. The 33-year-old defensive midfielder missed all three warm-up games due to a knee injury. He's expected to be ready for the World Cup. Switzerland 4 China 1 Alexander Frei and Marco Streller each scored two goals to lead Switzerland to a 4-1 win over China on Saturday in their final World Cup warm-up match. The win gave Switzerland who tied Ivory Coast and Italy in their two previous matches -- a boost heading into the tournament. The Swiss went up 1-0 when Frei tapped in a pass from Raphael Wicky in the 40th minute. Streller's first goal came after halftime when China goalkeeper Liu Leilei attempted to punch the ball. It bounced off the charging Streller and into the goal. Frei scored a penalty two minutes later -- his 25th goal in 45 matches for the national team. Streller completed the scoring in the 73rd when dribbled around the onrushing Liu to roll the ball into the empty net. China substitute Dong Fangzhuo scored a late goal. Poland 1 Croatia 0 Euzebiusz Smolarek scored in the second half Saturday, lifting Poland to a 1-0 win against fellow World Cup qualifiers Croatia. The win came six days before Poland play their first tournament match against Ecuador in a first-round group also including host Germany and Costa Rica. Croatia dominated first-half possession and created their best chances on free-kicks. Poland goalkeeper Artur Boruc dropped a 21st-minute free-kick by Niko Kranjcar and scrambled to punch the rebound out of play. Croatia's Darijo Srna then drew a foul in the 43rd, but put the ensuing free-kick off the crossbar. Kranjcar again challenged the Polish defence two minutes later, skipping past Radoslaw Sobolewski into the box. But the Croatia midfielder fired wide from 12 yards on the right side. Poland improved in the second half, putting together the passing moves it struggled with in Tuesday's 2-1 loss to Colombia. Smolarek put Poland ahead in the 54th, heading in a corner-kick from Maciej Zurawski. Croatia play their final warm-up match against Spain on Wednesday and open the tournament June 13 against defending champions Brazil. They then play Australia and Japan.
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