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Czech Republic & Chelsea Keeper Petr Cech Now Focused On World Cup Finals After Finishing Season With Club

Submitted by Scott Harkness on Tue, 02/05/2006 - 23:23.

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech is now concentrating on the Czech Republic’s assault on the World Cup Finals after admitting he will take no further part in the Premiership champions' season.

Having been instrumental in Chelsea’s winning of back-to-back Premiership titles – with the 2005/06 season having been cemented after their 3-0 win over Manchester United on Saturday - the Czech Republic’s first-choice goalkeeper will now make way for the former Chelsea No.1, Italian keeper Carlo Cudicini.

“For me the season is over now. Carlo will play the last two games. I would rather be able to rest for a couple of games and then prepare myself for the World Cup Finals,” said Cech.

But, despite Chelsea’s success of retaining their league crown, Cech admitted to being disappointed about Chelsea’s failure in their cup competitions – having been knocked out of the Champions League by Barcelona and losing the FA Cup semi-final to Premiership rivals Liverpool.

But Cech admitted: “It was a successful season. Defending the title is something that you don't do every day. We defended the title for the first time in the club's history so that is a big thing.

“But we are also a bit disappointed. We dropped out of the FA Cup and were beaten by Barcelona in the Champions League, although nobody took it as a tragedy.

“We wanted to win it (the title) at home. Last year we did it at Bolton and there were only 5,000 Chelsea fans there.

“It was also good because Manchester United were our closest challengers and they are the last team that successfully defended the title back in 1999. The result outlined who's the best in the Premiership.”

The Czech Republic have been drawn in Group E alongside Italy, Ghana and the United States in the World Cup Finals in Germany, which start on June 9.


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