The Czech Republic have qualified for FIFA World Cup Germany 2006, following a comfortable 1-0 win against Norway in Prague. Taking a one-goal advantage into the second leg after their victory in Oslo on Saturday, the Czech team had only to keep a clean sheet to ensure qualification. They went one better; Borussia Dortmund’s Tomas Rosicky thundering home from ten yards for the only goal of the game, after 35 minutes of the first half.

Once again, Karel Bruckner’s players had too much class for the Norwegians and, after Rosicky had given them the lead, they were content to protect Petr Cech’s goal and come away with a 2-0 aggregate victory. However, the Czech team didn’t have it all their own way. With nothing to lose the ‘Norsemen’ threw everything at their opponents. In the first half Steffen Iversen had a fierce drive deflected wide and another shot well saved by Cech. In the second period John Carew’s first-time effort brought a great save from the Chelsea goalkeeper.

However, the Czech Republic should have been two up by then. After 60 minutes Bordeaux midfielder Vladimir Smicer beat Charlton Athletic's Thomas Myhre in the Norway goal, only to have the goal ruled out for offside. TV evidence showed the former Liverpool player to be in line with the last defender and therefore onside. With ten minutes to go the home fans went wild when they thought Karel Poborsky had scored their second. This time however the officials made the right decision when they ruled the goal offside.

As time ran out Norway became more and more desperate, throwing players forward in search of a goal. It didn’t come. The Czech Republic are on their way to the first World Cup finals in their history.

Teams:

Czech Republic: Petr Cech; Zdenek Grygera, David Rozehnal, Tomas Ujfalusi, Marek Jankulovski, Karel Poborsky, Tomas Rosicky (Rostislav Kovac, 68), Jan Polak, Pavel Nedved, Vladimir Smicer (Jiri Stajner, 75), Milan Baros.

Norway: Thomas Myhre; Jon Inge Hoeiland, Erik Hagen, Brede Hangeland, John Arne Riise, Kristofer Haestad, Morten Gamst Pedersen, Fredrik Stroemstad, Thorstein Helstad (Ole Marti Aarst, 58), Steffen Iversen (Jan Gunnar Solli, 46), John Carew.

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