Two goals from the Czech Republic's all-time top scorer Jan Koller gave the hosts a 2-0 victory over Lithuania in their penultimate friendly before Euro 2008.

Koller, who plans to retire from the national team after the European championship, opened the scoring in the 39th minute with a powerful header from a cross by defender Zdenek Grygera and then finished from close range after the break.

Koller's performance was a promising sign for Czech fans after mixed form in qualifying and a rash of injuries left the often-fancied Czech Republic looking like outsiders at the championship.

They made a slow start, testing Lithuania keeper Zydrunas Karcemarskas with a few shots but looking shaky in defence and allowing the visitors to make several dangerous breaks in the first half.

However, Koller settled nerves with his opener and the hosts stepped up a gear after the break, peppering Karcemarskas's goal with shots.

The pressure paid off when Koller scored his second goal in the 62nd minute - his 54th for the national team.

The Czechs were led by defender Tomas Ujfalusi, who will captain the team at Euro 2008 in place of the injured Tomas Rosicky. Rosicky was ruled out of the tournament in Austria and Switzerland after undergoing surgery to fix a knee problem.

The 30-year-old Ujfalusi made headlines for the wrong reasons during the qualifiers last year when players celebrated his 29th birthday with a late-night party after they had lost 2-1 to Germany.

The team were fined for what the Czech soccer union said was a celebration conducted in an "inappropriate way" and coach Karel Brueckner admitted he had considered resigning over the matter.

The Czechs are in Group A for the June 7-29 tournament with Portugal, Turkey and co-hosts Switzerland.

Reuters