ANALYSIS Berger stand divides Czech fans
Wednesday 20th March 2002
Czech Republic coach Karel Bruckner is putting a brave face on Patrik Berger's decision to quit the national side.
But the loss of the Liverpool midfielder and Tomas Repka - two of the 'silver generation' who reached the final of Euro 96 - has led to intense debate about the state of the Czech game in pivnice up and down the land.
"I'm only interested in players who want to be in the national side," stated Bruckner upon hearing of Berger's retirement.
The Liverpool star had pointed to the appointment of Bruckner as one of the reasons for his decision, although he did leave the door ajar to a possible international comeback.
"Patrik hasn't spoken to me, I only know about this through the press," Bruckner lamented
But the coach was not in any mood to be grateful for Berger's hint that he may change his mind. "I am not going to wait for a phone call from Liverpool," he fumed.
According to Bruckner, Berger originally asked to be left out until the summer so he could get over his injury problems. "We had an agreement, he was the one who initiated it," the former Under-21 coach declared.
The Czech FA's decision to overlook Berger's old coach at Slavia Prague, Jozef Jarabinsky, was cited as he announced his retirement. He also echoed Repka in criticising the current leadership of the football federation.
There is no doubt Bruckner had the right credentials to replace Jozef Chovanec following the Czechs' failure to qualify for the World Cup. But the public perception remains that Jarabinsky was cold-shouldered.
The conspiracy theory goes that Jarabinsky was too much of his own man for the liking of those who run Czech football.
Bruckner was a safer option, even though the federation had spoken of making a fresh start and the 62-year-old coach was part of Chovanec's coaching team.
Berger claimed the FA's top brass were "not the men for the job", prompting Repka to vouch support. Both speak nostalgically about the old atmosphere in the national side and the support they felt from former supremo Frantisek Chvalovsky.
It is even suggested that Chvalovsky, who is awaiting trial for fraud, could be behind the players' self-induced exile and his beleaguered predecessor, Jan Obst, has announced he will be contacting Repka through lawyers to find out who has been casting aspersions about him.
The rumour is that Obst and general secretary Petr Fousek pulled strings to prevent Lennart Johanssen visiting Chvalovsky during the Uefa president's visit to Prague last year.
Another controversial figure in the new set-up is Sparta Prague chairman Vlastimil Kostal, whose new function does not even have a job title.
The businessman was placed in charge of Sparta when German publishing giants Vltava Labe Presse bought the club three years ago. And he now has great influence at the football federation.
His responsibilities extend to direct contact with the dressing-room and it is there that Berger claims matters have taken a dive. "What Patrik Berger said is far removed from reality," Kostal retorted.
The Sparta boss went on: "Repka announced that he was quitting the national team at a time when he knew he was facing suspension for several matches. Berger announced it now, even though his fitness problems meant we weren't counting on him anyway."
While some fans share the view that it is the football federation's fault, others have not spared Berger derision and there is no indication that Vladimir Smicer, Pavel Srnicek, Karel Poborsky or any other surviving members of the Euro 96 squad will follow him into exile.
The man caught in the crossfire is Bruckner and further aggravation will surely follow if his team does not perform.
Winning last month's Tournament of Four in Cyprus was a good start, but the game in Wales next week will be crucial for Bruckner if he wants to start the road to Portugal on the right footing.
