Czech Smicer ruled out of World Cup

Czech midfielder Vladimir Smicer yesterday ruled himself out of the World Cup finals due to a leg injury.

Team spokesman Lukas Tucek said Rangers midfielder Libor Sionko had been called up to replace Smicer.

"This morning I sat down with the doctors and we came to this decision.

"I couldn't let the coach, the players, or myself wait any longer," Smicer said.

"There are only 10 days to go until the first match and I still can't even train."

The Girondins Bordeaux player has been struggling for fitness since injuring a tendon behind his right knee in February.

Smicer was diagnosed with a blood clot in his thigh muscle at the Czech Republic training camp in Austria last week after suffering discomfort.

The 33-year-old did not play in a 1-0 win against Costa Rica on Tuesday.

Sionko, 29, has been training with the team as a stand-by. He has 18 caps, three of those coming during World Cup qualifying.

The Czechs open their World Cup campaign on June 12 against the United States. Italy and Ghana are also in Group E.