Sports News | All stories

Three Czech football players scored their debut international goals in a 5:1 win over Canada on Saturday that showed the squad's strength in depth. Meanwhile, the country's Under 21s - the reigning European champions - are in a good position to reach their Euro 2004, after beating Switzerland away in the first leg of play-offs. Decathlete Roman Sebrle has once again been named Czech Athlete of the Year, and 17-year-old Jakub Sindel has broken Jaromir Jagr's record to become the youngest player to ever score a hat trick in the domestic ice hockey

Midfielder Karel Poborsky will equal the international caps record held by Zdenek Nehoda when he turns out for the Czech Republic in a friendly against Canada on Saturday, though the 31-year-old has been trying to play down the importance of his achievement. Meanwhile, Poborksy's international captain, Pavel Nedved, is refusing to speculate on his chances of being named European Player of the Year. In ice hockey, Pardubice star Jiri Dopita scored at a hat trick on his first return to his old club Vsetin and Extraliga title-holders Slavia are preparing

In football, leaders Ostrava were fortunate to come away from Sparta Prague with a point on Saturday, after the most exciting league game seen in the Czech Republic in some time. Several Czech players found the net in various European leagues at the weekend, and coach Jaroslav Hrebik has taken over at Dinamo Moscow. The Czech ice hockey team came second in the Karjala Cup and the Velka Kunraticka cross country race was held for the 70th time, with one runner saying this was his last year after an incredible 55 outings!

Czech football clubs have had mixed experiences in European competitions this week: Sparta lost to Besiktas in the Champions League, while in the UEFA Cup Teplice caused a huge upset by beating 2002 winners Feyenoord away and Slavia drew with Levski Sofia, with two goals scored in time added on! In ice hockey, the Czechs had a winning start in the Karjala Cup and there is speculation Jaromir Jagr may leave Washington for Montreal.

Czech tennis number one Jiri Novak reached the semi-final of the Paris Masters, in what he describes as the second best season of his career. In football, a record crowd at Banik Ostrava saw the league leaders go six points clear of nearest rivals Sparta, who lost to bogey team Zlin, and Czech internationals have been in the news around Europe. Czech ice hockey league leaders Pardubice won their first game after five outings, and legendary goaltender Dominik Hasek is going through a difficult period at the moment.

The Czech tennis number one, Jiri Novak, has reached the third round of the Paris Masters tournament, in which he is seeded 14th. Reigning Czech football champions Sparta are slowly catching up on league leaders Banik Ostrava, while former Sparta man Jiri Jarosik has become the first Czech to win a Russian league title.

Among today's headlines in sport: Ostrava Banik remain unbeaten in the Czech first division / Football side Olomouc blanks Slavia at home for first time in 8 years / Hockey goalie Hasek notches first shutout of the season / Czechs help Ottawa Senators trounce Montreal / Koukal achieves career high in 15 km cross-country skiing freestyle sprint.

Sparta Prague beats Besiktas Istanbul 2-1 in the Champions League. Czechs are doing well at Swiss Indoor championship. Latest ice hockey Extraliga results.

In today's edition: Teplice edge Kaiserslautern in UEFA Cup / Damkova makes history as first Czech female ref in First Division / Koller scores twice in Bundeslige match / Berger sinks former team in Premier League / Hasek soft in first NHL loss this year / Jagr comes away without a point in back-to-back weekend losses

Slavia Prague have reached the second round of the UEFA Cup after beating Sartid Smederovo of Serbia 4:2 on aggregate. The Czech Under 21s got a tough draw in the play-offs for the European Under 21 Champions: they play Switzerland over two legs next month. Dagmar Damkova will this weekend become only the second woman in Europe to be the main referee in a men's first division game. In tennis, Martina Navratilova is - at 47 - to play for the United States Fed Cup team and Jiri Novak has reached the third round of the Madrid Masters.