Czech Republic-Poland friendly “highlights”

Managed to catch Eurosport’s abbreviated version of Poland v. Czech Republic in Cyprus, for the best, perhaps, given the result.

Roll the highlight clips (such as it was, given the tepid first-half lackadaisicality you’d expect from a game played in lovely Larnaca in February)!

6th minute. A full-capacity crowd of an estimated 600 thrills to see Wojciech Lobodzinski catching the Czech defenders standing still and, bam, it’s 1-0.

14th minute. A nice opportunity off a penalty kick goes for naught when Milan Baros, catching Poland keeper Artur Boruc out of position from the baseline provided a sweet feed not six inches IN FRONT OF THE GOAL FOR … no one, it seems. A squandered chance which wouldn’t be the last.

20th minute. The relentless, controlled attack by Czechs is surely reassuring for fans, and even though Jan Koller misses a little chip shot in front of the goal, this writer figures everything will be fine.

29th minute. Shows what this writer knows. A rifle-shot of a goal from young Mariusz Lewandowski makes it 2-0.

30th minute. After Baros’ brave attack earns a goal kick for the Czech Republic, Koller’s shot is saved.

31st minute. At thirty minutes comes the time of possession stat: Czech Republic 55%, Poland 45%. Big deal. It’s still 2-0.

46th minute. The Czech come out with renewed energy; they’re clearly desperate trying to rid their systems of last night’s, um, enjoyment of the beach.

49th minute. Koller can’t convert on a header.

58th minute. A penalty sees the Czechs produce what is called on Hungarian television a “nagy váriácio” (lit. “great variation”). Unfortunately, Zdenek Grygera can’t finish.

65th minute. On a nice breakaway, Koller misses again, beaten inside the box after the seemingly extra (read: superfluous) pass from Tomas Ujfalusi. Ultimately, it’s typically not fair to blame a loss on a single player in futball; alas, it’s becoming very easy to point a finger at Koller. Also, Koller himself is beginning to look exactly like an unholy mix of Zinedine Zidane and Nicolas Cage.

70th minute. Have the Czechs really had five corners against just two for Poland? And the score’s still 2-0? Ugh.

80th minute. The last convincing attack from the ‘Republic culminates in a missed header from Jaroslav Plasil, who looks defeated. And so the Czechs are.

Ah well, that’s why they call it a friendly, eh? Hey, Baros looked pretty good…