2골을 기록한 스미체르는 현재 체코 국가대표팀에서 천재적인 득점감각을 보여주고 있다. 지난 유로 96에서는 교체선수에 불과했던 그는 이제 콜러와 함께 호흡을 맞추며 체코의 공격을 지휘하고 있다. 
 
유로 96은 그에게 있어 기억이 많은 대회. 그는 러시아와의 조별 예선경기에서 교체 투입되어 종료 직전 귀중한 동점골을 기록, 3-3 무승부를 만들어냈다. 이 경기에서 무승부를 기록한 체코는 8강에 진출했다. 포르투갈과 프랑스를 차례로 꺾은 체코는 결승에서 독일을 만나게 된다. 스미체르는 결승전 이틀 전에 열기로 했던 결혼식을 미루고 결승에 임하지만 결국 3분밖에 뛰지 못하는 불운을 겪는다. 자신의 성공의 희생양이 된 셈이다. 
 
그러나 이렇게 짧은 시간동안 보여준 그의 활약이 헛된 것만은 아니었다. 그는 유로 96 이후에 슬라비아 프라하에서 프랑스 1부리그의 랑스로 이적한다. 그는 팀이 97/98 시즌에 훌륭한 성적을 거두는데 중요한 역할을 했으며 그해 대표팀에서도 뛰어난 활약을 보이며 15경기에서 13골을 기록하는 놀라운 득점력을 과시했다. 
 
왼발과 오른발을 자유자재로 사용하면서 골을 터뜨리는 그는 뛰어난 볼 컨트롤 능력을 지녔고 중앙 공격수뿐만 아니라 공격수 바로 뒤에서 공격을 돕는 미드필더의 포지션도 소화한다. 99년에 잉글랜드의 리버풀로 이적, 좋은 활약을 보이고 있고 유로 2000 예선에서는 8경기에 출전, 3골을 기록했다. 
 
▽블라디미르 스미체르(VLADIMIR SMICER) 
 
 국적:체코 
 소속:리버풀 FC(잉글랜드) 
 생년월일:1973년 5월 24일 
 키/몸무게:180cm/71kg 
 포지션:포워드 
 등번호:17번 
 
김지현<동아닷컴 인터넷기자> 
 

The tie of the 1992 European champions with the Euro '96 runners-up was the last game with coach Bo Johansson in charge of the Danish side, the only team finishing the tournament without a point. 

Wednesday's defeat leaves Denmark with a tournament-worst 0-0-3 record, eight goals conceded and not a single one scored. 

After losing to France and the Netherlands in their first two championships games, both teams had already been eliminated from the tournament, and their match was seen more as a warm-up for the 2002 World Cup qualification, in which the Czechs will clash with Denmark again. 

The Danes fielded four reserve players Wednesday, while the Czech Republic started with its elite lineup, featuring midfield star Patrik Berger, who was suspended for the first two tournament matches. 

But it was Denmark who got off to a better start, wasting its first scoring opportunity in the second minute when Bjarne Goldbaeck got hold of a ball thrown in from the left, but his blast from a perfect position on the edge of the Czech penalty area went wide of Pavel Srnicek's goal. 

Twelve minutes later, Rene Henriksen sidestepped Radek Bejbl on the left side of the box and Srnicek had to make some effort to save his low shot from 12 meters (yards). 

Danes kept on attacking, penetrating with ease through the chaotic Czech defense, and striker Jon Dahl Tomasson nearly scored in the 31st minute on a marvelous overhead shot from close range, forcing Srnicek to make a finger-tip save. 

Then came a rare Czech counterattack, with Karel Poborsky breaking away down the right and sending a trademark pass to Smicer in between two Danish defenders, but goalie Peter Schmeichel deflected the Liverpool forward's blast from some 20 meters (yards). 

"I must admit Denmark was better in the first half and we were under pressure," said striker Jan Koller. 

The opening minutes of the second half saw the Danes further stepping up their pressure. 

In the 53rd minute, Brian Steen Nielsen dribbled through the right side of Czech defence, sending a cross to the box which was collected by Tomasson, but his header bounced off the ground and only hit Srnicek's far post. 

Immediately after, Stig Toefting's low free kick went only inches wide of the Czech goal. 

But the Czechs hit back at the other end from another rare counterattack in the 64th minute. 

Poborsky collected a pass from Jan Koller deep in the midfield, took a 15-meter (yard) run down the right and found Smicer on the other side of the box, who comfortably scored after Schmeichel missed the cross. 

"I must thank Karel Poborsky for the textbook pass, I just couldn't miss it," said the jubilant Smicer. 

Denmark crumbled, and the Liverpool forward added his second goal three minute later, beating the shocked Danish defense and Schmeichel on a solo run through the center and scoring into an empty goal. 

In the remaining minutes of the match, the Czech Republic comfortably defended its 2-0 lead, with the depressed Danes failing to pose a serious threat to the Czech goal. 

"We had some great spells, but we were unlucky and lost again," said Danish defender Martin Laursen. 

Lineups: 

Denmark -- Peter Schmeichel; Michael Schjoenberg, Rene Henriksen, Jan Heintze (Soeren Colding, 67th); Brian Steen Nielsen, Thomas Helveg, Stig Tofting, Bjarne Goldbaek; Mikkel Beck, Jesper Groenkjaer, Jon Dahl Tomasson. 

Czech Republic -- Pavel Srnicek; Tomas Repka, Milan Fukal, Karel Rada, Radek Bejbl (Marek Jankulovski, 60th); Jiri Nemec, Karel Poborsky, Pavel Nedved, Patrik Berger; Vladimir Smicer (Vratislav Lokvenc, 78th), Jan Koller (Pavel Kuka, 73rd). 

Referee: Gamal El Ghandour, Egypt.