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Conquered trophies command respect. But there is no need to worry. This was also recognized by Sparta in the only duel on the European stage.
The 2nd year of the newly founded European League was played. The Czech representative in Group F finished second behind Russia’s CSKA Moscow, ahead of Italy’s Palermo and Switzerland’s Lausanne.
The English giant dominated Group K without defeat, followed by Italian Napoli, Romanian Steaua Bucharest and Dutch Utrecht.
The draw pitted these teams against each other in the first act of the spring, officially called the 2nd round. The winner advanced to the round of 16.
A missed opportunity
Just like this year’s first match, Prague’s Letná welcomed seventeen thousand fans eager to see Liverpool’s stars with their own eyes, the brightest of whom was sitting on the coach’s bench – Scottish goal-scorer Kenneth Dalglish, three-time winner of the European Champions Cup.
He did not send a follower, who would be able to score goals like him, on the field, the match ended without goals. The favourite, which Liverpool certainly was, failed. However, the home team did not cheer. “We were better, the opponents didn’t allow anything, on the contrary, we wasted some promising opportunities,” regrets even years later the sharp stopper Tomáš Řepka.
The statistics are conclusive. “Liverpool never shot at our goal,” goalkeeper Jaromír Blažek recalls, not having to face a single attempt that went between the three posts.
Until the rematch, a result that had hope in it. Especially since at the time it was the case that a goal scored on the opponent’s pitch was of greater value. Sparta kept a clean sheet at Letná.
Strike shortly before the end
Impenetrable defenses prevailed even on English soil, and the match was slowly going into overtime. Four minutes before the end, however, Dutch striker Dirk Kuijt headed in a corner kick. “Pamić was supposed to be guarding him, but he got away from him,” points to the Croatian stopper Řepek.
2nd round of the European League 2010/2011
Sparta Prague – FC Liverpool 0:0, 17/02/2011 Referee: Florian Meyer (Germany). Spectators: 17,569. Sparta: Blažek – Kušnír, Řepka, Brabec, Pamič – Vacek – Kerič (73. Sionko), Abena, Matějovský (90. Pekhart), Kadlec (89. Zeman) – Kweuke. Coach: Jozef Chovanec.
Liverpool: Reina – Johnson, Carragher, Kyrgiakos, Wilson – Lucas, Fábio Aurélio (37. J. Cole) – Kuijt, Meireles, Maxi Rodríguez – Ngog (83. Škrtel). Coach: Kenneth Dalglish.
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The Dutch legionnaire made his mark from the area of the goal area, i.e. from a relatively close distance. It is suggested whether the goalkeeper should have gone to the high center. “It wasn’t possible, he wouldn’t have been able to get to the ball through the pile of bodies,” defends his teammate, the defender, who, together with other capable headers, dismantled bigger opponents.
Kuijt was not primarily a dangerous finisher, he was appreciated for his unceasing combativeness, for his “black work” in taking away balls and interrupting actions. But he also scored goals, scoring 51 of them in the Premier League in his six years of service to the Liverpool club. “Not that he blew away a few guys, but he knew how to find a place,” Blažek finds his strengths.
However, it was a winning goal and marked the progress of the English team.
Federal duels
Slovakian representative Martin Škrtel, born in 1984, i.e. still in the joint Czechoslovak state, played for the English team in both matches. He came to Liverpool in 2008 from Russian Zenit St. Petersburg. The matches also brought federal fights.
The lanky stopper – 191cm – was a substitute at the end of the game, especially at Anfield Stadium, his tall stature in the final push was an asset for the home side, as both Spartan veterans agree. And the decisive goal was scored after a corner kick.
However, the Czech legionnaires also made a significant mark in Liverpool’s chronicles. “Patrik Berger, Vláďa Šmicer, and later also Milan Baroš played against me,” recalls Řepka, who wore the jersey of London’s West Ham United in 2001-2006. And on the roster of the English team is substitute goalkeeper Vítězslav Jaroš.
The Czechoslovak footprint is therefore also strong in Liverpool.
Anfield’s iconic cauldron
The cult Anfield Road stadium awaits Sparta’s footballers in retaliation. In 2011, it was sold out, with 45,000 spectators. I mean hell. “I wouldn’t even call it that, I didn’t feel fear. I was more aware of what a wonderful experience it was, where I got to with Sparta,” recalls Blažek. “And I wish the same for the current players,” he says.
Foto: Getty Images
However, Liverpool “fans” are famous for supporting their team. “When the whole stadium sings the club anthem You’ll Never Walk Alone, it freezes,” admits Řepka, who has also heard the chant many times in the English Premier League.
But even he does not find something in the famous cauldron that should break the player. “The boys have already been through something, they are used to full stands,” he discusses Sparta’s last performances. “But it’s a huge experience,” he agrees with his colleague. “It excited me,” Blažek even reveals a positive contribution.
Competition leaders
Liverpool is once again the clear favourite, which is also evidenced by their position on the UEFA club ranking according to the success rate. It ranks 5th, Sparta is in 77th place. “But they are the leaders of domestic competitions, which I like very much,” Blažek points to the current form of the opponents. “Although the English Premier League is a somewhat different competition,” he reminds.
“The first against the first, so it’s right,” adds Řepka. Liverpool lead the table by just a point ahead of defending champions Manchester City, who dominated all competitions last season. “That will make the duel more interesting,” Řepka invites the fans to the stands and to the TV screens.
Responsibility and courage
Succeeding against such a giant will not be easy, it requires maximum performance and concentration. “Above all, a responsible approach, don’t make mistakes,” warns Řepka. “The English team has excellent players who can punish any hesitation,” Blazek flips through the roster and pulls out the shooting aces: Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo, Darwin Núñez.
Perhaps it would be enough for Sparta not to disgrace herself. “You can’t think like that,” Řepka rejects any defeatist attitude. “You can play against anyone, which Sparta is now proving,” he urges the players to believe in themselves.
A former teammate congratulates him “It was already said for us that we don’t have the slightest chance against Liverpool, and we almost advanced,” Blazek returns to the spring of 2011. “Sparta has made tremendous progress in the last period, they don’t have to worry,” encourages the Danish coach’s ward Brian Priske.
After all, it will be close to that. “I’m going to the TV studio, which will be right on the screen,” reveals Blažek.