CZECH REPUBLIC : HOW THEY QUALIFIED

The Czech Republic finished second to the Netherlands in European Group 1 with a 9-3-0 record and 27 points, qualifying for the playoffs. The Czechs then defeated Norway in the total goals series, 1-0 and 1-0, on November 12 and 16. Tomas Rosicky scored in the second game. "This is the peak of my career," coach Karel Brueckner told Reuters before his players picked him up and carried him on the field. "We showed our character tonight, I'm proud of how they played."

QUALIFYING RESULTS
9/8/04 Holland 2, Czech Republic 0
10/9/04 Czech Republic 1, Romania 0
10/13/04 Armenia 0, Czech Republic 3
11/17/04 Macedonia 0, Czech Republic 2
3/26/05 Czech Republic 4, Finland 3
3/30/05 Andorra 0, Czech Republic 4
6/4/05 Czech Republic 8, Andorra 1
6/8/05 Czech Republic 6, Macedonia 1
9/3/05 Romania 2, Czech Republic 0
9/7/05 Czech Republic 4, Armenia 1
10/8/05 Czech Republic 0, Holland 2
10/12/05 Finland 0, Czech Republic 3
11/12/05 Norway 0, Czech Republic 1
11/16/05 Czech Republic 1, Norway 0