Euro 2012 Group A: Czech Republic
GROUP A
Poland Russia Greece Czech Republic
[Team Jersey Images © Soccerphile]
Czech Republic
Road to Poland & Ukraine
Drawn in the same qualifying group as defending European champions Spain, the Czech Republic started out with a disastrous home defeat to Lithuania.
Coach Michal Bílek's team eventually recovered to claim a place in the play-offs, where they eased past Montenegro over two legs to book a place in the finals.
Fixtures
 |
 |
Czech Republic Kit 1
|
Czech Republic Kit 2
|
Czech Republic v Russia 8 June; Wroclaw
Czech Republic v Greece 12 June; Wroclaw
Czech Republic v Poland; 16 June; Wroclaw
Analysis
Despite the presence of veterans Petr Cech, captain Tomáš Rosický and Milan Baros, this is a relatively new-look Czech side. Stand-out talents are few and far between and with playmaker Rosický struggling for form since picking up a serious hamstring injury in 2008, the Czechs are likely to employ a gritty brand of football in Poland.
Goal scoring could prove a major problem, not least because talented striker Tomáš Necid has only just returned to action from a serious knee injury. That means despite his recent poor form in the international arena the bulk of the goal scoring responsibility will fall on Galatasaray veteran Baros, with Energie Cottbus striker Martin Fenin struggling to make the step up to international class.
Key player: Petr Cech
Cech needs no introduction as a goalkeeper of real class, and the giant shot-stopper will prove integral to the Czech Republic's fortunes.
Many believe the Chelsea goalkeeper is not quite the same calibre he was before suffering a serious head injury in 2006, but the veteran will nevertheless carry the hopes of his nation on his broad and athletic shoulders.
One to watch: Václav Kadlec
The teenage tyro enjoyed an international debut to remember, getting on the scoresheet against Liechtenstein at just 18 years of age. Should he make the squad, the Sparta Prague attacker could give the Czech Republic a spark of unpredictability off the bench.
Coach: Michal Bílek
The 46-year-old Bílek is a relatively unpopular figure in his homeland, yet he has clearly built a rapport with his players. A former Czech international, Bílek was a long-time coach of the Czech under-19 side but this is his first tournament at full international level.
Record
1960 Third place, 1964, 1968, 1972 Did not qualify, 1976 Champions, 1980 Third place, 1984, 1988, 1992 Did not qualify as Czechoslovakia*
1996 Runners-up, 2000 Group stage, 2004 Semi-finalists, 2008 Group stage
FIFA Ranking
How they qualified for Euro 2012
The Czech Republic came through a play-off after finishing second in Group I behind Spain.
On the sidelines
One-time Noddy Holder look-a-like Karel Poborský is the most-capped Czech player with 118.
Soccerphile says
Drawn in the same group as co-hosts Poland, 2004 champions Greece and Russia, much will depend on the outcome of their opening game against Russia. If the Czechs can avoid defeat, they'll fancy their chances of progression, particularly if Poland struggle for results before the two sides meet in their final group stage game in Wroclaw.
The Squad
Goalkeepers: Petr Cech (Chelsea), Jaroslav Drobny (Hamburg), Jan Lastuvka (FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk)
Defenders: Theodor Gebre Selassie (FC Slovan Liberec), Roman Hubnik (Hertha Berlin), Michal Kadlec (Bayer Leverkusen), David Limbersky (FC Viktoria Plzen), Tomas Sivok (Besiktas), Marek Suchy (Spartak Moskow)
Midfielders: Vladimir Darida (FC Viktoria Plzen), Tomas Hubschman (Shakhtar Donetsk), Petr Jiracek (VfL Wolfsburg), Daniel Kolar (FC Viktoria Plzen), Milan Petrzela (FC Viktoria Plzen), Vaclav Pilar (VfL Wolfsburg), Jaroslav Plasil (Bordeaux), Frantisek Rajtoral (FC Viktoria Plzen), Tomas Rosicky (Arsenal)
Forwards: Milan Baros (Galatasaray), David Lafata (FK Jablonec), Tomas Necid (CSKA Moskow), Tomas Pekhart (FC Nurnberg), Jan Rezek (Anorthosis Famagusta)