Baros sits out training and could miss opener
Reuters - Wednesday 06 June 2012, 16:35
Czech Republic striker Milan
Baros sat out training on Wednesday with a thigh strain, raising
doubts about whether he can play in their Euro 2012 opener, team
doctor Petr Krejci said.
Although a scan showed the muscle was strained not torn,
Baros will only feature against Russia in Friday's Group A game
if can train with the full team on Thursday, Krejci added.
"If Milan does the full training session with the team, he
will be ready to play," Krejci said. " If he trains on his own,
he will not."
While the 29-year-old Galatasaray striker has only scored
three times in the past two years for the Czechs, coach Michal
Bilek has few experienced options beyond Baros who was the
Golden Boot winner at Euro 2004.
If he is not ready to lead the attack, Nuremberg's Tomas
Pekhart is likely to take on the main striking role. Another
option is Jablonec's David Lafata who led the Czech league in
scoring last season.
However, neither has the pedigree of Baros, who has scored
41 goals for the national team. Pekhart has yet to find the net
for the Czechs while Lafata has three international goals.
After facing Russia at the Municipal Stadium, the Czechs
will play co-hosts Poland and former European champions Greece
in the group stage of the event also being staged in Ukraine.