PORTO, 27 June 2004 — Czech Republic coach Karel Brueckner confirmed yesterday that he would make wholesale changes to his side for today’s Euro 2004 quarterfinal against Denmark.

Shortly before the squad trained at the Dragao Stadium yesterday, the 64-year-old master of enigmatic answers said he would field a team “with many changes” from the one that beat Germany 2-1 in their final Group D clash.

He also said that Marek Heinz, who scored with a superb curling free kick in that game, would play, though Heinz later explained that meant he would appear as a substitute.

In effect, Brueckner was only confirming that he would switch back to his top team. The side that faced Germany showed nine changes from the one that started against the Netherlands.

As usual, however, Brueckner stressed the importance of team spirit and the value of all his squad members.

Asked how he compared his current team, which reeled off three successive group victories, with the side that lost the Euro ‘96 final to Germany, he evaded the question.

“I have never compared the 1996 team to any other team and cannot do it with this team,” he said. “I am sorry but I am unable to answer that question.”

Asked if he felt the departures from the tournament of traditional powers as Spain, Italy, Germany, England and France and the survival of Greece, Portugal, the Czechs and Denmark indicated a shift in power, Brueckner was similarly instrutable.

“I have think about this for a long time,” he said. “Maybe there is a kind of shift, but I don’t know. It is a difficult question.”

He said he was proud to be in the quarterfinals, adding that the theoretical part of his preparations was almost over.

“Now it is just a question of seeing if we can put our planning into practice with some success,” he said.

Denmark Hope to Have Learned World Cup Lesson

Denmark hope the lesson of a second-round defeat to England at the last World Cup will help them against the Czech Republic in their quarterfinal.

Denmark had a good first round in Asia two years ago, winning their group with a 2-0 victory over holders France, but were beaten 3-0 by England in the first knockout stage after conceding a soft early goal.

“I think we’re better prepared,” captain Rene Henriksen said yesterday. “Against England at the World Cup they scored their first goal after two minutes. Of course, we have learned not to do that again,” Henriksen told a news conference. The 34-year-old has kept his place alongside Martin Laursen in a central defensive partnership regarded as too slow for nippy strikers like the Czech Republic’s Milan Baros.

But despite playing well so far, Henriksen believes meeting the Czechs at the first knockout stage in Portugal will, like facing England at the World Cup, be tougher than the group stage.

“It will be more difficult because they (the Czechs) have gained a lot of confidence from their own group and even without the first eleven they managed to win... They’re a team with a lot of quality,” he said.

The Czech Republic won all their group games, coming from behind in all three to beat Latvia 2-1, the Netherlands 3-2 and, with a second string side, Germany 2-1.

Denmark were also unbeaten with draws against Italy and Sweden and a victory over Bulgaria.