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Scots outclassed by Euro 2008 outsiders Czech Republic

30/05/2008

Scotland were undone by three second half goals as they lost 3-1 to the Czech Republic in Prague.

Ex-Rangers winger Libor Sionko scored a brace while Michal Kadlec grabbed the third for the Czechs while David Clarkson scored on his debut for George Burley's side.

Sionko, who also played at Hearts under Burley, was a danger throughout for the home side and put in two crosses in the opening stages which Jan Koller headed over.

An under strength Scotland created few chances in the first half but felt they should have had a penalty when debutant Barry Robson was barged by AC Milan defender Marek Jankulovski.

Czech Republic continued to carve out the better opportunities and came desperately close to scoring when Jan Polak's rasping effort was parried by Craig Gordon, with Jankulovski firing the rebound into the side-netting.

Another Scotland debutant, James Morrison, impressed in the second half and lashed a volley inches over the bar from 20 yards.

The West Brom winger came close to breaking the deadlock minutes later when his strike was blocked by Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech.

The Czechs punished Scotland's wastefulness on the hour mark when Sionko burst into the box and stroked the ball past Gordon to make it 1-0.
Kenny Miller should have put the Scots level minutes later when he curled his shot over with the goal at his mercy.

And Miller was left to rue that miss when Kadlec rifled the ball into the far corner seven minutes from time to seal victory.

Two minutes later, the visitors reduced their deficit when Clarkson bamboozled his marker inside the box and fired the ball into the corner.

But the Czechs had the last say when Sionko executed another well-timed run to burst into the box and poke the ball into the net in stoppage time.

The Czechs, who reached the semi-finals of Euro 2004, will open their Euro 2008 campaign against co-hosts Switzerland on June 7th.