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Icing on the cake for Juventus with Golden Ball for Nedved
Paris, Dec 23: New European football of the year Pavel Nedved dreams with more glory with the Czech Republic and Juventus.
Paris, Dec 23: New European football of the year Pavel Nedved dreams with more glory with the Czech Republic and Juventus.
Czech midfielder Pavel Nedved, 31-year-old, was rewarded on Monday (December 22) in Paris with the Balon d'Or, a prestigious prize given by magazine France Football. His choice crowns a series of outstanding performances for Juventus as they retained the Italian League title and reached the Champions League Final in May. After winning the Golden Ball, the 31 year-old midfielder has set his mind on achieving more glory with his native Czech Republic and Juventus. "I would very difficult to reach the finals with the Czech Republic in the European championships or to take Juventus in the Champions League final. These are two very completely different challenges. I will do all I can to achieve my objectives which are to reach the Champions League final and to do a good campaign with my Czech Republic in the World Cup or in Europe but for sure it won't be easy."
Nedved, who was also voted best player of the year earlier by magazine World Socccer, is the second Czech to win the prestigious Golden Ball after Josef Masopust in 1962.
"I know that it is mine because I can touch the trophy and my name is engraved on it. I am very moved especially 41 years after Josef Masopust, the idol of the Czech soccer," he said.
Nedved won the award with 190 points. Arsenals Thierry Henry of France was second with 128, ahead of AC Milans Paolo Madini on 123 points.
Urkaine's AC Milan striker Andrei Shevchenko was fourth on 67 points while FIFA's player of the year Zinedine Zidane of France was fifth on 64 points.
If there was a single game in the past 12 months that showed the value of 2003 European Player of the Year Pavel Nedved, it was the final of the Champions League.
The Juventus midfielder was suspended for the match against AC Milan at Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium in May and, without their Czech livewire, Juve were unable to get even close to their best.
Lacking Nedved's pace, aggression, running, passing and devastating shooting from distance, Juve were predictable and dull as they lost to Milan on penalties after the disappointing final ended goalless following extra time.
It was not only Juve fans who felt robbed by the absence of Nedved. Neutrals watching the final on television around the world knew that it would have been a different, and better, game with the 31-year-old Czech bursting down the left.
Nedved went into the second leg of the semi-final against Real Madrid on a yellow card and, after an unnecessary foul on Steve McManaman eight minutes from the end of the game, he was booked and suspended for the final.
Just minutes before the booking he had shown his value yet again with a supremely confident finish, latching on to a pass from Gianluca Zambrotta and firing in Juve's third goal, which proved decisive as they won 3-1 and 4-3 on aggregate.
Nedved's goals against Deportivo Coruna, Manchester United, Barcelona and Real had played a major role in Juve's progress to the final.
But, while his Champions League campaign ended in disappointment, he had already been the toast of Turin for helping Juve to a second successive Serie A title.
It was the 3-0 home victory over closest challengers Inter in March that turned the season in Juve's direction on Nedved's night.
The Czech international ripped Inter apart, scoring one spectacular goal and creating the other two as Lippi's team outclassed Inter and began their title push in earnest.
With nine goals from midfield, Nedved was exactly what challengers AC Milan and Inter lacked, a player who can break from deep and score goals while, at the same time, doing all the graft expected of a modern midfielder.
He may not have all the tricks and touches of some of the previous European Player of the Year winners but he is the complete modern midfielder, combining work-rate with flair, aggression with skill and always willing to adapt to the needs of the team.
Nedved was also fundamental to his country's successful qualification campaign for the finals of the European Championship in Portugal next year as they extended their unbeaten run to 17 games.
The midfielder moved to Juventus from Lazio in the close season of 2001 and was given the job of replacing Zinedine Zidane after the Frenchman had moved to Real Madrid.
After Juve took the 2002 title on the final day of the season, few doubted the Czech midfielder had fulfilled his task.
Nedved had tasted success before his move to Turin, winning the Serie A title in 2000 with Lazio under Sven-Goran Eriksson and also clinching the last European Cup Winners' Cup in 1999 and two Italian Cups while with the Rome club.
Born in the town of Cheb, Nedved began his career with Dukla Prague before switching to Sparta Prague where he made his name winning three national titles. He is married to Ivana and the couple have two children.
Factbox on Juventus and Czech international midfielder Pavel Nedved, who was named European Footballer of the Year on Monday: 1972: Born on October 30 in Cheb in former Czechoslovakia 1991: Begins career with Dukla Prague 1992: Joins Sparta Prague and wins Czech championship three times during his five years at the club 1996: Helps Czech Republic to final of European Championship, where they lose 2-1 to Germany after a golden goal 1996: Signs for Lazio 1998: Wins Italian Cup 1999: Wins European Cup Winners' Cup 2000: Clinches Serie A title and Italian Cup double 2001: Joins Juventus for around 40 million euros in July as replacement for playmaker Zinedine Zidane, gone to Real Madrid 2001: Considers retiring from international soccer after Czech Republic fail to qualify for the 2002 World Cup 2002: Wins Serie A title with Juventus on final day of season 2003: - Helps Juventus to a second successive Italian league title and was a key figure as the Serie A side advanced to the Champions League final. However misses final due to suspension. AC Milan win on penalties June - Named Czech Player of the Year for fourth time in six seasons September - Leads Czech Republic to qualification for Euro 2004 December 11 - Voted Player of the Year by World Soccer magazine December 22 - Named European Footballer of the Year by France Football magazine.
Bureau Report
Czech midfielder Pavel Nedved, 31-year-old, was rewarded on Monday (December 22) in Paris with the Balon d'Or, a prestigious prize given by magazine France Football. His choice crowns a series of outstanding performances for Juventus as they retained the Italian League title and reached the Champions League Final in May. After winning the Golden Ball, the 31 year-old midfielder has set his mind on achieving more glory with his native Czech Republic and Juventus. "I would very difficult to reach the finals with the Czech Republic in the European championships or to take Juventus in the Champions League final. These are two very completely different challenges. I will do all I can to achieve my objectives which are to reach the Champions League final and to do a good campaign with my Czech Republic in the World Cup or in Europe but for sure it won't be easy."
Nedved, who was also voted best player of the year earlier by magazine World Socccer, is the second Czech to win the prestigious Golden Ball after Josef Masopust in 1962.
"I know that it is mine because I can touch the trophy and my name is engraved on it. I am very moved especially 41 years after Josef Masopust, the idol of the Czech soccer," he said.
Nedved won the award with 190 points. Arsenals Thierry Henry of France was second with 128, ahead of AC Milans Paolo Madini on 123 points.
Urkaine's AC Milan striker Andrei Shevchenko was fourth on 67 points while FIFA's player of the year Zinedine Zidane of France was fifth on 64 points.
If there was a single game in the past 12 months that showed the value of 2003 European Player of the Year Pavel Nedved, it was the final of the Champions League.
The Juventus midfielder was suspended for the match against AC Milan at Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium in May and, without their Czech livewire, Juve were unable to get even close to their best.
Lacking Nedved's pace, aggression, running, passing and devastating shooting from distance, Juve were predictable and dull as they lost to Milan on penalties after the disappointing final ended goalless following extra time.
It was not only Juve fans who felt robbed by the absence of Nedved. Neutrals watching the final on television around the world knew that it would have been a different, and better, game with the 31-year-old Czech bursting down the left.
Nedved went into the second leg of the semi-final against Real Madrid on a yellow card and, after an unnecessary foul on Steve McManaman eight minutes from the end of the game, he was booked and suspended for the final.
Just minutes before the booking he had shown his value yet again with a supremely confident finish, latching on to a pass from Gianluca Zambrotta and firing in Juve's third goal, which proved decisive as they won 3-1 and 4-3 on aggregate.
Nedved's goals against Deportivo Coruna, Manchester United, Barcelona and Real had played a major role in Juve's progress to the final.
But, while his Champions League campaign ended in disappointment, he had already been the toast of Turin for helping Juve to a second successive Serie A title.
It was the 3-0 home victory over closest challengers Inter in March that turned the season in Juve's direction on Nedved's night.
The Czech international ripped Inter apart, scoring one spectacular goal and creating the other two as Lippi's team outclassed Inter and began their title push in earnest.
With nine goals from midfield, Nedved was exactly what challengers AC Milan and Inter lacked, a player who can break from deep and score goals while, at the same time, doing all the graft expected of a modern midfielder.
He may not have all the tricks and touches of some of the previous European Player of the Year winners but he is the complete modern midfielder, combining work-rate with flair, aggression with skill and always willing to adapt to the needs of the team.
Nedved was also fundamental to his country's successful qualification campaign for the finals of the European Championship in Portugal next year as they extended their unbeaten run to 17 games.
The midfielder moved to Juventus from Lazio in the close season of 2001 and was given the job of replacing Zinedine Zidane after the Frenchman had moved to Real Madrid.
After Juve took the 2002 title on the final day of the season, few doubted the Czech midfielder had fulfilled his task.
Nedved had tasted success before his move to Turin, winning the Serie A title in 2000 with Lazio under Sven-Goran Eriksson and also clinching the last European Cup Winners' Cup in 1999 and two Italian Cups while with the Rome club.
Born in the town of Cheb, Nedved began his career with Dukla Prague before switching to Sparta Prague where he made his name winning three national titles. He is married to Ivana and the couple have two children.
Factbox on Juventus and Czech international midfielder Pavel Nedved, who was named European Footballer of the Year on Monday: 1972: Born on October 30 in Cheb in former Czechoslovakia 1991: Begins career with Dukla Prague 1992: Joins Sparta Prague and wins Czech championship three times during his five years at the club 1996: Helps Czech Republic to final of European Championship, where they lose 2-1 to Germany after a golden goal 1996: Signs for Lazio 1998: Wins Italian Cup 1999: Wins European Cup Winners' Cup 2000: Clinches Serie A title and Italian Cup double 2001: Joins Juventus for around 40 million euros in July as replacement for playmaker Zinedine Zidane, gone to Real Madrid 2001: Considers retiring from international soccer after Czech Republic fail to qualify for the 2002 World Cup 2002: Wins Serie A title with Juventus on final day of season 2003: - Helps Juventus to a second successive Italian league title and was a key figure as the Serie A side advanced to the Champions League final. However misses final due to suspension. AC Milan win on penalties June - Named Czech Player of the Year for fourth time in six seasons September - Leads Czech Republic to qualification for Euro 2004 December 11 - Voted Player of the Year by World Soccer magazine December 22 - Named European Footballer of the Year by France Football magazine.
Bureau Report