Koller's Injury Could Mean End For Czech's

The Czech Republic's chances of qualifying for next year's Germany World Cup took a battering over the weekend with news of Jan Koller's injury.

The Czechs are second in their group behind Holland with a critical game against the Dutch still to come and the loss of Koller may swing the game against them. Although he's about fifteen feet tall and looks like he will trip over his feet at any moment (kind of like Peter Crouch), Koller has scored 9 in the qualifying matches so far and he links up extremely well with Milan Baros.

Baros is a player who really does need a strong, physical striking partner to play alongside of - something that someone should tell David O'Leary. Baros scores when he doesn't have to spend all his time holding the ball up. Koller could do this and his importance to the Czech Republic shouldn't be underestimated.

I think this tips the balance of the group in favour of the Dutch. It would be a great shame if the Czechs fail to make it to Germany 2006, so let's hope that they get through anyway. Either as one of the two best performing runners-up or via the play-offs.