Setback for shocked Czechs

Czech Republic 0-1 Japan

Japan rampant
Having lost 2-1 in the Republic of Ireland last month, ending a 20-game unbeaten run, the home team were determined to return to winning ways with UEFA EURO 2004™ less than two months away, but the visitors were rampant for much of the first period and held on impressively after the break.

Key men return
Vladimír Šmicer, Karel Poborský and Tomáš Rosický all returned to the Czech starting lineup having missed the Irish defeat, the Liverpool FC player Šmicer featuring after seven months out with an achilles tendon injury.

Nakata out
Reigning Asian champions Japan had themselves suffered their first defeat of the year in Hungary on Sunday and were without three European-based players - Reggina Calcio midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura with an injured toe, Hamburger SV defender Naohiro Takahara through a bruised right thigh and captain Hidetoshi Nakata of Bologna FC, who was not risked by coach Zico due to a groin problem.

Disallowed goal
Milan Baroš had the ball in the net after ten minutes but his effort was disallowed for offside, and from that point on, Japan took control, with a spell of domination that ended with them taking the lead. A Junichi Inamoto shot from distance deflected wide, Kubo was denied by Petr Cech's block and the Stade Rennais FC goalkeeper saved from Kaji Tamada moments later.

Czech chances
Karel Brückner's men had their chances, Jan Koller and Tomáš Galásek missing the target, but Japan broke the deadlock just past the half-hour mark. Kubo received the ball on the Japanese right and scurried down the wing before cutting inside and shooting between Cech and his near post for a goal the visitors' first-half play fully deserved.

Six substitutions
Brückner made six substitutions at half-time and it seemed to reinvigorate his team, who were able to dominate the second period. Pavel Mareš set up one good chance, but fellow substitute Vratislav Lokvenc could not find the target. Six minutes later Japan joined the home team in having a goal ruled out for offside, UC Sampdoria's Atsushi Yanagisawa, having only just been brought on, putting the ball in the net before spotting the flag.

Narazaki save
That scare gave the Czechs extra impetus, but even with Pavel Nedved's influence growing as the minutes ticked away, the hosts were unable to find a way past Japan goalkeeper Seigo Narazaki. Having been on such good form in recent months, Brückner's side are now approaching EURO 2004™ on a two-game losing run.