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TO a nation used to success at the highest level, coach Berti Vogts attempts at Wembley Stadium today to deliver the European Championship to Germany with half a team.

   The decision of UEFA to permit Germany - and the Czech Republic - to add two players to the squad on the eve of the final means little more than adding two fit bodies to a severely depleted squad.

 Although Vogts was pleased with the decision, which he had pushed for, his main thanks were for the doctors and medical staff with Germany who are working overtime with eight injured players.

 Little wonder the World Cup-winning player, who has now safely made his mark as national coach, is monitoring the condition of skipper and striker-in-chief Jurgen Klinsmann almost by the hour.

 As Germany prepare to face the unranked Czech Republic in a rematch of their first group match in this tournament, Vogts will look around a dressing room that is far from full.

 When Vogts and Germany started on their Euro 96 journey over a month ago, key players in the squad - strongly labelled by the coach as his own team and not one inherited from Franz Beckenbauer - included Jurgen Kohler, Mario Basler, Fredi Bobic, Andreas Moller and Stefan Reuter. And Klinsmann.

 The first three are back home in Germany through injury while suspension rules out Moller and Reuter.

  Klinsmann remains a doubt until the teamsheet is handed in one hour before the kick-off.

  The Bayern Munich superstar is 'hopeful' that he will make it.

 Ironically, it was the remarkable Czechs who found themselves in a very similar position before the semi-final game with France which they entered with four first choice players missing.

 A fifth was added when Vladimir Smicer left before the break but his head injury has certainly not affected him too much. He dashed home to Prague to wed and returned last night on the eve of the final.

 The final, itself a write-off in the eyes of millions of English fans who longed to see a different set of white shirts grace the old ground today (early tomorrow morning HK time), is by no means a formality for the odds-on favourites Germany who were tournament favourites when the extravaganza started on June 8.

 The Czech Republic have lost only three games in 23 with one of those defeats, quite incredibly, against Luxembourg which opened the door for Holland's appearance in Euro 96.

 But for most fans both in England and elsewhere it is difficult to picture the Czechs as one of the best teams in Europe.

  Surprisingly for an eastern European side, 15 of the squad are still home-based with a couple of players in the Czech Second Division.

 Eight home-based players were in the side that beat France - although some of those were obviously enforced changes - and only the excellent Karel Poborsky, eyed by Liverpool, and Patrik Berger of Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund would be considered European-class players.

 Berger is recognised as the best young Czech player in years although illness has restricted his appearances in this tournament.

  But he will be a major influence in the final as will the veteran Miroslav Kadlec, scorer of the vital penalty that sank France. The Kaiserslautern centre-back marshals the defence and does it extremely well.

 The real key to the Czechs' chances is coach Dusan Uhrin who has done magnificently with limited resources but has instilled a self-belief in his players. The sum total is far greater than the individual parts with the Czech team experienced, well organised, tactically aware and totally committed to their task.

  The return of the suspended quartet will also give them vital fresh legs.

 The absence of the quick and very effective Reuter is a major blow to Germany as is the sad departure of midfielder Moller from the final; his well-placed penalty ensured Germany would grace today.

 Moller was magnificent against England and his industry, eye for a shot and the setting up of a move, have all combined to make him a vital component in the German side.

 I made the point before the semi-final that, harsh as the loss of Klinsmann was, it was still a relatively simple choice for Vogts to make - put in another striker. He went for Kuntz rather than Oliver Bierhoff and saw his stand-in striker score a vital equaliser.

 The reverse is the case today. Vogts must come up with replacements for Reuter and Moller with Thomas Hassler, who has not impressed, the likely candidate for midfield. Not only does Vogts lose players in top form, he runs the risk of upsetting the balance of the side whoever he plays - and the choices are limited.

 It would clearly be a major bonus for Vogts if Klinsmann was fit but the Germans don't gamble when the stakes are this high.

   England's former Footballer of the Year may well start on the bench and be put into the action if things go awry.

 This is not a great German team but it stands comparison with the best of its forerunners when it comes to the reliable assets of dependability, dedication and a determination to succeed that is almost a creed.

 Germany are aiming for their third European Championship success but they have been denied, ironically, by the Czechs and Slovaks before.

  That was in the championship held in Belgrade 20 years ago when a penalty shootout went against Germany - the last time it did so.

 Now it's the Czechs on their own - and they won't have much support at Wembley where only a few thousand of their supporters have had the financial resources to enable them to stay the course.

 Depleted Germany cannot and will not treat the Czechs lightly and much has changed since the opening 2-0 group defeat at Old Trafford. The Czechs have grown up in the heat and stress of Euro 96 and will relish this glorious moment in the world footballing spotlight.

 Don't rule them out - but if it goes to penalties, as it could, there will be only one winner. The Germans don't miss.



Injuries leave rival camps critically short of player resources