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By Rex Gowar
NEUCHATEL, Switzerland, June 10 (Reuters) - Petr Cech in goal and Jan Koller up front will be the main obstacles to victory in Wednesday's Euro 2008 match against Czech Republic, said Portugal pair Ricardo Carvalho and Nuno Gomes.
The duo told reporters on Tuesday how Portugal would try to beat the imposing Cech at one end and subdue the even taller Koller at the other in the Group A match in Geneva.
"He (Cech) is one of the best in the world. I'm certainly going to ask (his Chelsea team mates) Ricardo and Paulo Ferreira if he has any weak points," said striker Nuno Gomes.
"It's going to be very hard to beat him," said Carvalho. "I don't think he has any weaknesses but there's always a chance. People make mistakes."
Carvalho also expected a tough time marking the 2.02-metre (6-foot-7) Koller.
"It's going to be a very difficult duel for me and (fellow centre back) Pepe," he said. "But we have other characteristics. While he is taller we are quicker and have more pace.
"In England the game is quite physical and I have become accustomed to that. We must try to reduce the space he needs."
Nuno Gomes said Cech was not the only barrier Portugal's forwards would have to overcome.
"They also have four first-choice defenders who all play in the Italian league, with quite a lot of experience," said the striker.
"We know the Czech team is better than Turkey but we're ready."
One of the teams could clinch a place in the last eight with victory, with both already on three points.
"It's a very important match because it can give us our passage to the next phase," said Carvalho.
"We have very good players and they are going to have to break us down."
