No Favors for Germany as Czechs Look for Another Scalp

Germany needs a victory in Lisbon on Wednesday night to qualify for the quarter-finals of Euro 2004 and will go all out to get one. That's the combative message coming from the German camp ahead of the crunch final game against the Czech Republic which Rudi Völler's boys must win if they are to progress. The Czechs are already through and meet Denmark in the knock-out phase; Germany has to dig deep to beat the in-form team in Group B to grab the last quarter-final spot.

"We have to win and I believe we can if we show some passion," said Völler. The coach is plotting the Czech Republic's downfall in style with playmaker Michael Ballack the man charged with providing the impetus that will take Germany to the next round and the waiting Swedes.

"It is very important for us that Michael can get into the box and into goal scoring positions. He has worked hard and is now the focal point - he can cope with that."

Established strikers have struggled

Völler has come under increased pressure from the media and fans back home to come up with a strike force that can improve on the current dismal record of just one goal in the opening two games of this tournament. Kevin Kuranyi, Fredi Bobic and Miroslav Klose have all been employed in Germany's attacking formation but have yet to spark either together or individually.

The calls from home have centered on 19-year-old Lukas Podolski, the FC Cologne striker who was a surprise inclusion in the squad and has yet to make an appearance.

Ballack charged with scoring duties

It seems more likely that Völler will give Ballack a more advanced role in the hope that the Barcelona-bound midfielder will reproduce his World Cup form where he was a driving force in Germany's route to the final.

Ballack has scored 19 times for Germany, more than any of the recognized strikers have to their name.

Despite the drought, Völler refused to point the blame at his misfiring strike force. "It is unfair to criticize the attackers when the goals do not come as it concerns the entire team rather than a few individuals," he said. "I am sure we can solve our attacking problems.

"We have to improve our supply of crosses but if we come out with self-confidence and play to our potential, we can do it again."

Midfielder sees team work as solution

Ballack himself was not to be lured in to assuming the mantle of Germany's goal scoring solution. "I am not putting myself under pressure," he told the team's daily press conference on Wednesday. "It is not important whether I get the goals or someone else does as long as someone scores."

The Czech Republic has had no such problems with striker Milan Baros hitting his stride as the tournament heats up and the supporting midfield weighing in with influential service. But with Group D already won, the Czechs are expected to rest several of their star players although Baros is likely to start the game.

"If Nedved and Galasek are not there, this may not necessarily be bad for us," Rudi Völler said. "But it's really up to us - we have to show character and willpower."

"Whatever line-up they use, they will come out to play hard -- everybody wants to trip Germany."

Czechs want three wins out of three

Assistant coach Miroslav Beránek agreed that Germany are a scalp that most teams want to capture and insisted the Czechs would not be letting up against the Germans.

"We want to finish the group with a third victory in a row," he said. "Our substitutes are hungry to finally get a game so they can prove themselves. But the quarter-final is the most important thing for us right now," he added.

"The guys are motivated, they feel a chance they can prove themselves. We still want to win though; it's good for our self-confidence."