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Smicer gives Czechs a vital lead
 Smicer heads home the Czechs' winner in the 31st minute OSLO, Norway -- Vladimir Smicer's first-half header enabled the Czech Republic to take a giant step towards next year's World Cup finals in Germany, giving them a 1-0 victory over Norway in the first leg of their qualifying playoff in Oslo. The goal came in the 31st minute when Smicer took advantage of a slip by Norwegian defender Andre Bergdolmo. Berdolmo lost his footing on the hard pitch, allowing Smicer a free header from a cross from the right. "We had the game under control more or less," Smicer said. "We are happy we won 1-0. We came here to try to win, or at least score, and we managed to fulfill both." It was a well-deserved lead for the Czechs, who dominated for much of the opening half on a pitch partly covered by sand after being damaged badly by rain and two domestic cup finals a week ago. Players struggled on the slippery surface throughout the match. In the 10th minute, Czech striker Milan Baros headed wide from about nine meters. Three minutes later, Smicer's angled shot from inside the box went just outside Thomas Myhre's left post. Norway did not create a scoring chance until the 28th, when Christian Grindheim fired over the crossbar from close range after several players scrambled for the ball inside the box. Norway improved after the Czechs' goal. In the 39th, John Arne Riise's hard shot from well outside the box was punched away by goalkeeper Petr Cech with two fists. In the 50th, Morten Gamst Pedersen shot a free kick over the bar from just outside the area. A minute later, Kristofer Hastad headed the ball away when standing on the goal line after a Czech corner. Juventus midfielder Pavel Nedved, who came out of international retirement to try and get the Czech Republic to the World Cup, nearly scored with a 14-meter drive in the 63rd that Myhre dived to stop. Nedved was playing his first match since last year's European Championship in Portugal. Czech captain Tomas Galasek and Daniel Braten of Norway received yellow cards and will miss the return game Switzerland sink TurksPhilippe Senderos and Valon Behrami were on target as Switzerland beat Turkey 2-0 in the first leg of their playoff in Berne. Senderos scored the first goal with a glancing header from Ludovic Magnin's free-kick in the 40th minute. Behrami added the important second in the 86th, three minutes after replacing Tranquillo Barnetta. He picked up a low cross from Alexander Frei with his first touch and shot low into the net. Switzerland's win was only their second in the last eight meetings between the two sides and also brought an end to Turkey's unbeaten run away from home during this World Cup qualifying campaign. 
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