Nedved tells Italy to stay focused


Written by: AFP Bookmark and Share
2008-06-17 15:37:38

Juventus´ Czech midfielder Pavel Nedved plays the ball against Empoli during their Serie A match in Empoli´s Castellani Stadium, March 2008. Nedved has called on Italy not to make the same mistakes his compatriots made that sent them home early from Euro 2008.
  Juventus´ Czech midfielder Pavel Nedved plays the ball against Empoli during their Serie A match in Empoli´s Castellani Stadium, March 2008. Nedved has called on Italy not to make the same mistakes his compatriots made that sent them home early from Euro 2008.
ROME (AFP) - Juventus' Czech Republic midfielder Pavel Nedved has called on Italy not to make the same mistakes his compatriots made that sent them home early from Euro 2008.

The Czechs were 2-0 ahead against Turkey in their final group game, but conceded three goals in the last 15 minutes.

"I still don't understand what happened," Nedved told www.juventus.it, "it really was strange and for a while I couldn't understand this type of match happening to our national team.

"Perhaps at 2-0 the boys were convinced they had ended the match and slackened off a bit. The first goal made them scared and the second took their legs away from them."

Nedved, who retired from national team duty following the 2006 World Cup, is hoping that Italy can learn from the Czech Republic's mistakes and dismisses talk of the Netherlands and Romania fixing the result.

"I'm hoping they don't do what my ex-teammates do. However, it won't be easy as qualification doesn't just depend on beating France.

"I don't think there's any possibility of a fixed-result because no-one wants this type of ugliness in the game."




Discuss

Tontodonati June 17th, 2008 17:19

Thanks, Pavel. You were one of the few players loyal to Juventus. I know you mean what you have just said about Italy.

FManiac24 June 17th, 2008 18:41

Well, it must not be simply fixing, but Holland can rest the first team and due to this matter they can lose to solid Romania, as it happened to Portugal, who didn't drop points intentionally. It seemed that only the ref helped the home team to say goodbye with three points. If Pavel played for Czechs, they would have been going better, I'm sure of it. Despite his age, he is still in good shape.

cannavaro June 17th, 2008 23:11

what a splendid player Nedved is, staying loyal to Juventus after a lot of players left....I think when Nedved retires they should keep him in the coaching staff....great player

Tontodonati June 18th, 2008 01:05

Cannavaro, I believe I've heard rumors about Pavel Nedved staying on with Juventus after he retires. He deserves it!

cannavaro June 18th, 2008 02:28

Yes, that's what I've heard as well, when he retires they will keep him with the club

tim_azzuri June 18th, 2008 09:51

Really great that he should say this.

Tontodonati June 18th, 2008 12:01

Alberto, be happy but spell your and our "AZZURRI" correctly!