Czech team spirit pays dividends

The Czech Republic's two-goal hero Michal Pospísil identified his team's exceptional spirit and willpower as the key factors in their surprise march to the UEFA European Under-21 Championship final.

Fresh strength
FK Viktoria Zizkov front-runner Pospísil, who came off the substitutes' bench to sink reigning champions Italy with a dramatic double strike - the second a "golden goal" - in the Czechs' unexpected 3-2 success in Zürich on Saturday, said that his team-mates actually gathered fresh strength from the Italians' last-gasp fightback from two goals down.

Italians stunned
The buoyant Czechs, who were the more accomplished side throughout a thrilling encounter, stunned the massive Italian support in the 10,000-plus crowd by taking a first-minute lead through David Rozehnal, and looked to have sewn up the match with Pospísil's first goal ten minutes from time.

Grandstand finale
But Italy, looking to improve further on four European U21 titles in the last five tournaments, produced a grandstand finale to level matters through Andrea Pirlo's 86th-minute penalty and a Massimo Maccarone strike well into stoppage time, before Pospísil set the Czech players dancing with the decisive goal eight minutes into extra time - set up by another substitute, Libor Zurek.

Nothing to fear
The Czech youngsters gathered in a close-knit circle before extra time to fire themselves up for a renewed effort. "We were desperately disappointed when Italy scored the equaliser, because we were so close to time," said a delighted Pospísil after the game. "But our substitute players told us that we had nothing to fear in extra time, and that we could go on and win the match."

Hard concentration
"I knew that Zurek was shaping up to cross," the Czech hero said about his extra-time winner, "so I tried to concentrate as hard as I could when the ball came, and hit the target."

Stealthy Czechs
With their mixture of robust, well-organised defence and intelligent, pacy attacking football, the Czechs made a mockery of their stuttering form in the group stage to overcome an Italian side that struggled for cohesion and inspiration until their exciting late rally.

Heart and intelligence
"I'm absolutely delighted with my team," said Czech manager Miroslav Beránek. "They played with great heart and intelligence. We have gradually improved since our opening group match." The Czech Republic began the tournament with a 2-0 defeat against France - who they now face again with greater hope in Tuesday's final in Basel.

Good substitutions
"Once we were two goals up, I thought the match was won, but the final stages were extremely difficult for us - however, I know that I have several strikers who are capable of scoring goals, so the substitutions I made proved to be good ones," added Beránek.

Sweet revenge
The victory was sweet revenge for the Czechs, who lost the 2000 U21 final to Italy in Bratislava. As for the Italians, they will head home with the feeling that their campaign in Switzerland promised rather more than they were ultimately able to deliver.

Vulnerable defence
Much-vaunted Milan AC midfield playmaker Pirlo struggled to stamp his authority on the match. Up front, emerging FC Empoli striker Maccarone endured a night of frustration before finally coming alight with his late equaliser, while the Italians' defence always looked vulnerable in the face of the Czech's measured counter attacks.

Gentile philosophical
Italy's coach Claudio Gentile remained philosophical and upbeat after the game. "It was a bitter way to lose, and to concede an early goal obviously did us great damage," said the former Juventus FC defender.

"Sad" golden goal
"However, my players' reaction after the second Czech goal was magnificent - they fought with great determination, but we are out of the competition because of a golden goal, which is always a sad way to lose a football match."

Underdog role
The Czechs will start Tuesday's final as clear underdogs. But it's a role that will probably suit them - and any French "spies" at the Hardturm Stadium on Saturday night will have told France's coach Raymond Domenech that his side will have to be totally on song to counter a Czech outfit that looks to be hitting peak form at exactly the right moment.