Starting with Wednesday night's football action: a double blast from the Lazio midfielder Pavel Nedved helped the Czech Republic to an impressive 4-1 victory over Israel in Prague.

Nedved opened the scoring in the 14th minute when he collected a pass from Pavel Horvath before smashing home off the post from 25 metres out. The hosts went further ahead in the 37th minute when the lanky Anderlecht striker Jan Koller tormented the Israeli defence before slamming in a low shot from the edge of the box. Nedved put the game out of Israel's reach in the 57th minute, finding the net with a free kick 18 metres from goal. Eyal Berkoviz managed to grab a consolation for the visitors nine minutes from time, however Rene Wagner capped a wonderful night for the Czechs with the fourth just before the whistle. Delighted Czech coach Josef Chovanec said later that the match had helped to define his Euro 2000 squad, adding "the team showed that it can stick together, and that is the most important thing for me."