Cech hits back over criticism

Czech goalkeeper singled out for blame

Last updated: 25th June 2008

Petr Cech blunder Turkey v Czech Republic

Cech: Turkey blunder

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Czech Republic goalkeeper Petr Cech has hit back at a leading official who publicly blamed him for their Euro 2008 exit.

Czech football federation deputy head Vlastimil Kostal, who resigned as team manager after the last-gasp defeat by Turkey, claimed Cech must shoulder the burden of their group stage exit.

The Czechs were on course for a quarter-final place when they led Turkey 2-1 with just three minutes remaining, before Cech fumbled a routine cross allowing Nihat Kahveci to equalise, before scoring a stunning winner moments later.

Kostal told Sport: "It is necessary to unequivocally say that (Cech) is responsible for the loss to Turkey."

Big disappointment

Chelsea ace Cech has already admitted he was at fault, but has hit back following Kostal's very public criticism.

He said: "It feels bad that some people in the Czech football leadership are not team players. Especially in bad times, they don't stand by the team and fail to support it.

"It looks like... they turned their back on us only to avoid responsibility. Personally, that's a big disappointment for me."

Kostal had said he didn't feel a direct responsibility for the team's failure at Euro 2008 because it wasn't him who fumbled the ball.

Cech added: "From many of his words in the interview, I came to a conclusion that during all the years (Kostal) was the only member of the team that kept winning and never lost."