by Leonmc0708 » Sun Jun 20, 2004 3:12 pm
I watched the Czech game last night, and I was impressed by the Centre Half, Tomáš Ujfaluši. He was quick, good in the air and he gave Van Horse face a five yard start and breezed past him twice.
UEFA website reports:
A talented defender who is occasionally pushed forward to anchor the midfield, Tomáš Ujfaluši has grown in stature as his career has progressed, maturing into a key figure for club and country.
National side
Part of the Czech Republic team beaten 2-1 by Italy in the final of the 2000 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, Ujfaluši graduated to the senior side during qualifying for the 2002 FIFA World Cup. He appeared sporadically throughout, including the first leg of the play-off defeat by Belgium as the Czechs missed out on a place in Korea/Japan.
UEFA EURO 2004™qualifying
Cemented a place in Karel Brückner's starting lineup, playing every minute of the first seven qualifiers. He was suspended for the final 3-2 victory against Austria, by which time the Czechs had already won Group 3.
Club
Ujfaluši enjoyed early success with his first club, SK Sigma Olomouc. The Czech side finished third in 1997/98 to qualify for the UEFA Cup, a competition in which the young defender made his European debut against Kilmarnock FC of Scotland. Although that campaign ended with defeat by Olympique de Marseille, Ujfaluši helped Sigma qualify again via a fourth-placed 1. liga finish in 1998/99.
2000: Left the Andruv stadium for Germany, where he soon became a favourite at Hamburger SV. The club finished eleventh in his first full season at the AOL Arena before the defence gelled the following term, conceding 21 fewer goals to pave the way for a fourth-placed finish and UEFA Cup qualification.
2003/04: Ujfaluši tore ligaments in his knee in December 2003, ruling him out until early March, but still managed 26 outings as Hamburg finished eighth in the Bundesliga.
Did you know?
Ujfaluši scored his first two international goals in the same game, a friendly against Yugoslavia in September 2002.
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JUSTICE FOR THE 96
