Cech hopes to frustrate Ballack

Czech Rep v Germany : The Czech Republic face Germany in a top-of-the-table Group D European qualifying clash featuring two …

Czech Rep v Germany: The Czech Republic face Germany in a top-of-the-table Group D European qualifying clash featuring two goalkeepers desperate to stop their club-mates from scoring.

Czech goalkeeper Petr Cech will come up against his Chelsea team-mate Michael Ballack, the German captain, while German goalkeeper Jens Lehmann will be trying to prevent his Arsenal club-mate Tomas Rosicky from scoring for the Czechs.

Five of the likely Czech starting line-up have Bundesliga experience and there are close ties all over the pitch in a match between the neighbouring countries who both have 10 points from their opening four matches.

Rosicky used to share a room with Germany's Christoph Metzelder when they were at Borussia Dortmund together, while Hamburg SV team-mates David Jarolim and Piotr Trochowski will face each other too.

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Cech, for one, is eager for his side to win so he can end one of the few personal losing streaks he has had to suffer in his recent career.

"I have played the Germans three times and always lost. I believe the card could finally start turning now," he said.