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Group A winners clash

Both Portugal and the Czech Republic could make a decisive step towards the quarter-finals when they clash in Geneva on Thursday (18:00).

The Czechs want to link to their 1-0 success from the last clash with Portugal. Back at the EURO 1996 the Czechs had won the quarter-final thanks to Karel Poborsky's stunning goal.

Galasek demands improvement

"It's mandatory that we keep a clean sheet and take the smallest chance we get up front", former HSV player Tomas Ujfalusi said.

That sounds like the match summary from the 1-0 win over Switzerland in the Czechs' opening game, but 1. FC Nürnberg captain Tomas Galasek insisted that "we have to improve considerably."

Jarolim on the bench?

Karel Brückner is expected to change his starting eleven: "It's possible to change a winning team", the Czech coach said. Marek Matejovsky could take the place of HSV star David Jarolim.

Czech record goalgetter Jan Koller is expected to stay in the starting eleven, however, despite the winning goal his replacement Vaclav Sverkos scored against Switzerland.

Deco warns against complacency

Portugal were more impressive than the Czechs in their opening game, beating Turkey 2-0, but Deco warns against complacency.

"The Czechs had problems in their opening game, but that doesn't mean anything. We mustn't underestimate them, and we won't", the Barcelona midfielder declared.

Line-ups as expected:

Czech Republic: 1 Cech - 2 Grygera, 21 Ujfalusi, Rozehnal, 6 Jankulovski - 4 Galasek, 3 Polak - 20 Plasil, 17 Matejovsky, 7 Sionko - 9 Koller

Portugal: 1 Ricardo - 4 Jose Bosingwa, 15 Pepe, 16 Ricardo Carvalho, 2 Paulo Ferreira - 8 Petit, 10 Joao Moutinho - 7 Cristiano Ronaldo, 20 Deco, 11 Simao - 21 Nuno Gomes

Referee: Kyros Vassaras (Greece)

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