A World Of Two Halves

Week 3: FC Zbrojovka 1 - 3 AC Sparta Praha

August the fourth. The football season has already established itself in the cultural calendar of right-minded people. I do not recall back-to-back home games last season - a rare occurrence in its own right; two Prague teams and we're being spoilt.

Brno, as we do not need to be reminded, is the second city of the nation. The Czech capital, Prague, has historically benefited from its privileged status. Sadly, comparisons between Birmingham and London ring true in this central European enclave. Prague is a beautiful town with culture and amazement on the corner; but is not immune to the pretentious elitism found in other 'important' cities.

In footballing terms, Sparta Prague are the show stoppers; the main attraction. Tonight's crowd of 9613 - 3000 larger than any non-Sparta game I have attended - reinforces this statement. Dominant in Czech(oslovak) football, amassing 35 league titles and 27 domestic cups, they have perhaps not had the impact in UEFA tournaments that one might expect, but can boast success in the precursor to the FIFA World Club Cup and the Mitropa Cup [A central European competition held in high regard before WWII].

With a slight, redcurrant tinge of irony; it was Sparta Prague and not Brno, that adopted Arsenal's original colours. Zbrojovka do not do imitation.

Sometimes, a floodlight block our goal...

Today's encounter begins with a lively tempo. Sparta, despite exiting the Europa League in the 2nd qualifying round to BK Hacken of Sweden in their woeful campaign, have found domestic form in the last six months and are playing with good movement and fluidity. Brno, unbeaten so far, are trying to respond in kind with reasonable success.

Creative bunch, these Prague-sters

Unbeknown to the seventy-five per cent capacity crowd, this game is one of the last chances to see Vaclav Kadlec in the Gambrinus Liga. He has since made a three and a half million Euro transfer to Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga. He opened the scoring today, and scored a late consolation during Sparta's last trip to Srbska Stadion. For me, his most impressive performance was against FK Viktoria Plzen last season - Sparta won 1-0 at home against a defence-minded visitor. Kadlec definitely has potential, but also prone to unremarkable showings. Today, for example, in spite of his goal I was not overly impressed by his all around game.

Tifo this!

The one player who impressed me today was Sparta's new left back, Costa Nhamoinesu. Signed from Lubin in Poland's Ekstraklasa during the summer. Quite attack-minded with a bit of pace, while also displaying reasonably solid defensive qualities. An impressive start, given the step-up in quality between a mid-table Polish team and the biggest team in the Czech Republic. (I have also seen him on a few televised games already this season).

Calm (and lack thereof) before the storm

I cannot comment so much on the football today as I left today's game early. A combination of a poor seat and stormy weather drove me out of the stadium prematurely. Kick-off was shrouded in warm evening sunshine, flowing beer and the biggest crowd I have shared the stadium with. However, the weather changed dramatically during the interval. Blue skies turned black; the serenity of summer was breached with severe winds, and it rained and rained and rained. A tree even crashed down on the north stand, injuring three people. I heard the roar of the crowd come the Zbrojovka equaliser, and the night ended huddled around a TV set in the doorway of a small bar near to the tramstop. Sparta scored twice in the last five minutes while the rain lashed, and the tram came no nearer...