Czech match is bigger than England, says Brunt

By Stuart McKinley
Tuesday, 9 September 2008

Chris Brunt hopes to embarrass the Czech Republic

Chris Brunt hopes to embarrass the Czech Republic

Chris Brunt is eyeing another famous Windsor Wednesday tomorrow night.

Northern Ireland will aim to kick-start their 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign at home to the Czech Republic after losing away to Slovakia on Saturday.

And the talented winger believes beating the Czechs would be a bigger result than the win over England.

Brunt was an unused substitute three years ago when David Healy’s goal famously gave Northern Ireland victory over a Sven-Goran Erikkson-led English side.

It was a never to be forgotten night in Belfast — as was the 3-2 triumph over Spain 12-months later — but with three points so desperately needed, even at this early stage in proceedings, the clash with the Czechs is much more important.

“Any win over England is going to stick out for everyone, but in that qualifying campaign we were out of it,” said Brunt.

“This time we still have a great chance of getting to the World Cup and from the perspective of trying to qualify a win over the Czechs would be a bigger result than beating England.

“There is still a massive incentive there for everyone, hopefully on Wednesday we can put right Saturday night and kick-start our campaign.

“We lost in Slovakia, but we still have all our home games to come and that’s important for us.

“We can’t take point for granted at Windsor Park though, we have to work hard for it and we earned every win we got at home in the last campaign.”

Brunt wasn’t involved in the Spain game, but he did play against Sweden and his brilliant cross from the left wing was headed home to equalise against the Danes.

Every one of those games was highly memorable and Brunt wants one more to add to what is becoming a growing collection for the adoring Green and White Army.

“We need another big night at Windsor,” said Brunt.

“The last qualifying campaign sticks out for the Spain game, Sweden and Denmark too.

“We play very well under the lights at Windsor, so hopefully we can dig out another performance like that. It down to us, we’re going to have to work very hard for it because the Czechs are a top side with good players who play in the top leagues across Europe.

“We have the quality in our squad to win the game, we just need everyone pulling together in the same direction and make it happen.”

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