Nedved itching to make impact

The Czech Republic are looking to European Footballer of the Year Pavel Nedved to fire their Euro 2004 bid, which starts against Latvia today.

Nedved, one of the survivors from the Czech side who lost to Germany in the 1996 final, said: "We can't wait to get started. We have high hopes and we need to make an instant impact." Jan Koller is set to partner Milan Baros up front and the line-up is also likely to include former Manchester United winger Karel Poborsky, another survivor of the class of 96, and goalkeeper Petr Cech, who joins Chelsea from Rennes next month.

"I do not know much about the Latvian team," said Nedved.

"I know that they have a good striker called Maris Verpakovskis but beyond that there is not much I can tell you about them."