Nedved and attacking midfielders Karel Poborsky and Vladimir Smicer are the last three veterans who were on the Czech team that staged an upset at Euro '96, reaching the final. Their brilliant performances then earned them places in lineups of leading European clubs, including FC Liverpool and Manchester United.

Nedved moved to Lazio from Sparta Prague in 1996 in a transfer that elevated him to star status in European soccer. He helped the Rome-based club to victories in the Italian Cup in 1998 and the European Winners' Cup in 1999.

Lazio clinched the Italian League and Cup double the following season and Nedved, the club's best player, transferred to Juventus in a deal worth $51.2 million in 2001.

Nedved's combative attitude and determination, accompanied by brilliant ball and passing skills and lethal long-range shooting, made him a leader at Juventus. He took over there for the seemingly irreplaceable Zidane, who had transferred to Real Madrid.

He led Juventus to the Serie A championship in 2002, 2003, 2005 and this season. He was instrumental in the Italian superpower's elimination of Real Madrid in the Champions League semifinals in 2003, but missed the final game due to yellow cards.

Now, he's determined to improve his 17 goals in 85 appearances for the Czech Republic and to fill a void.

"My dream still remains the same," Nedved said. "To play once again in a grand final, be it the Champions League with Juventus ... or the World Cup final.

"That's the biggest motivation for me that helps me recover from all injuries and troubles I've gone through."