Nedved tells Italy to stay focused

Juventus' Czech Republic midfielder Pavel Nedved has called on Italy not to make the same mistakes his compatriots made that sent them home early from Euro 2008.

The Czechs were 2-0 ahead against Turkey in their final group game, but conceded three goals in the last 15 minutes.

“I still don't understand what happened,” Nedved told www.juventus.it, “it really was strange and for a while I couldn't understand this type of match happening to our national team.

“Perhaps at 2-0 the boys were convinced they had ended the match and slackened off a bit. The first goal made them scared and the second took their legs away from them.”

Nedved, who retired from national team duty following the 2006 World Cup, is hoping that Italy can learn from the Czech Republic's mistakes and dismisses talk of the Netherlands and Romania fixing the result.

“I'm hoping they don't do what my ex-teammates do. However, it won't be easy as qualification doesn't just depend on beating France.

“I don't think there's any possibility of a fixed-result because no-one wants this type of ugliness in the game.”