Originally posted by: Mwilding
Good News For The USA
Czech midfielder Smicer ruled out of World Cup
AFP
June 1, 2006
PRAGUE (AFP) - Czech midfielder Vladimir Smicer has announced that he will not play for the Czech World Cup squad in Germany.
Smicer, 33, made the announcement to journalists in Prague after a meeting with national squad manager Karel Bruckner and doctors at which they concluded that his long running injury problems prevented him starting in the competition.
Smicer broke the news to fellow players at midday Thursday.
"It was not easy. It was emotional and tears were shed. But it would not have been fair of me if I was to go to the tournament and was not able to help the team," he said.
Czech football federation officials have invited him to spend some time with the team in Germany.
Smicer has been sidelined since February with a tendon injury sustained when playing for French side Bordeaux. His problems worsened last week when he was taken to an Austrian hospital after injuring his right leg during shooting practice with the national squad during World Cup preparations at an Austrian Alpine retreat.
In spite of the fresh injury Bruckner refused to rule out the ex-Liverpool player from his World Cup plans saying that he had until June 11 to take a final decision.
Smicer's possible replacement, Libor Sionka, newly signed for Glasgow Rangers from Austria Vienna, joined the Czech squad at their Austrian retreat last week.
Czech team spokesman, Lukas Tucek, said Sparta player Tomas Sivok had also joined the team, the agency CTK reported. A final decision on Smicer's replacement has not been taken.