Ujfalusi urges caution after good start by Czechs

BASEL (Reuters) - Czech Republic captain Tomas Ujfalusi urged his team mates on Sunday not to over-play their opening Euro 2008 win and to remember how it all went wrong at the 2006 World Cup after a similarly good start.

A 1-0 victory over co-hosts Switzerland on Saturday has put them in a strong position before their remaining Group A matches against Portugal and Turkey.

Two years ago in Germany, the Czechs made a dream start with a 3-0 win over the United States but then lost to Ghana and Italy without scoring another goal and failed to progress past the group stage after injuries to key players depleted the team.

"Of course we, know only too well that we mustn't rest on our laurels," Czech sports Web site www.sport.cz quoted Ujfalusi as telling reporters at the team's training base in Austria.

"We have to use what we learnt from the World Cup in Germany so that we manage our next games better."

Next up for the Czechs are Portugal, who will aim to repeat their fine attacking performance in Saturday's 2-0 win over Turkey.

Czech Republic looked better in defence than going forward against Switzerland, which will be a key quality if they are to contain group favourites Portugal on Wednesday.

Ujfalusi said goalkeeper Petr Cech was a major asset in that defence.

"We are aware that behind us is one of the world's best goalkeepers. Whenever we defenders make mistakes or go to sleep, it is always him who protects the team. Immediately in the first game he did it twice," he said.

(Editing by Ken Ferris)