How the Czech Republic qualified for Euro 2012
The Czechs will felicitate themselves for reaching Poland-Ukraine as they successfully overcame firm competition from Scotland in a qualifying group which also contained the likes of titleholders Spain. A 1-0 defeat to Lithuania got the Czech Republic on a bad start to their Euro 2012 qualification campaign.
However, wins at home to Scotland and away to Liechtenstein gave them 6 points after the 3rd round of matches. The Czechs lost both of their fixtures against the Spanish but did just enough to finish above third-placed Scotland in Group I.
The storyline has been pretty similar for the Gunners this season. The plot is somehow familiar to all faces at the Emirates with a good beginning, a disastrous climax and a poor resolution. Even Arsene Wenger's looks at White Hart Lane last week were pretty common in recent times as he witnessed his side lose yet another valuable 3 points after Spurs staged a magnificent comeback to derail their already slim title hopes.
Every season, Wenger keeps on repeating of the significance in the youth present in his squad. Maturity within the team has always been under serious doubt although the highly philosophical Frenchman stressed about how they would all find their feet one fine day. Presumably, he was expecting to see them all reach their peaks at a similar time so that he could transform himself into a 'human' La Masia.
Petr Cech
Cech is actually not having the best of moments in his career right now. The highly-esteemed goalkeeper has conceded 22 goals in 26 Premier League starts for Chelsea, but he also has 74 saves on his account. Impressive or not, he is expected to protect the Blues’ post against Manchester United this evening, and this means nothing but danger and a warning for the Red Devils’ Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov.
John Terry
John Terry is the one who got the first and last goal in the last Chelsea vs Manchester United match in the Premier League. It was his second-half winning header which silenced the Mancunians at the Stamford Bridge at the beginning of last season. Away from his ability to score important headers, Terry can be regarded as the rock of Chelsea’s defense. He has so often been the main helper in the Blues’ defense against the league leaders. This time around, he could well show his greatness on another occasion by helping Petr Cech to keep a clean sheet. Presumably, a goal from the English captain would be more than ideal, but this might not be Terry’s priority, as his tasks at the back are unbelievably massive.
“It was my mistake. The coach couldn't have said anything else,” Peter Cech admitted as he responded to Carlo Ancelotti’s post-match comments which saw the shot stopper blamed.
Petr Cech
Yes, recently, Petr Cech has not been as powerful as he used to be in the past. Especially in Chelsea’s 3-0 defeat to Sunderland this season, his performance was absolutely below par. However, he is still the pit of Chelsea’s defensive structure, and incontrovertibly, he remains one of the best keepers in the EPL.
His reflex, punches, and catches—thanks to his height—have deeply troubled opposing forwards over the years, and every time the Londoners get into action, it is unlikely that the Premier League title holders will concede much. Sadly for them, this has not been the case lately, but today, Petr Cech could find back his form and stand as the shield of the visitors against Arsenal the Gunners.