Czech Republic

Will Czech Republic make it to the finals?

More info

Czech Republic squad info

Czech Republic head into the Euros this summer as a team with one of the best records in European competition anywhere on the continent – although you might not know that. Statistically, this is Czech Republic’s seventh straight Euros tournament and they have reached the final (1996) and the semi-final (2004). But if you take into account Czech Republic’s record as part of Czechoslovakia before 1992, the country boasts an enviable record of three semi-finals, a runner-up finish and being crowned champions in 1976.

But those days of past glories are far behind the Czech Republic now. The team has failed to escape the group stage in two of their last three Euros campaigns and haven’t reached the World Cup since 2006. Five years ago, in France the Czech Republic earned just one draw as they limped out at the group stage.

This summer head coach Jaroslav Silhavy is tasked with guiding his side through a group that involves England, Scotland and Croatia. The Czechs are arguably the least fancied team in Group D and start their campaign against Scotland at Hampden Park on 14 June.

Silhavy’s troops actually faced England, meanwhile, during their qualifying campaign. The Czech’s road to the Euros included a 2-1 victory over England in which Zdenek Ondrasek scored a late winner. Crucially Czech Republic beat Kosovo and Bulgaria to finish second in the group, behind England, and earn their spot at the Euros.

Patrik Schick (4) was the only Czech player to score more than once during qualifying, and this season the Bayer Leverkusen man netted in a 6-2 win over Estonia in World Cup qualifying. He usually starts up front on his own, but Silhavy has Michael Krmencik and Matej Vydra to call on too. The boss likes to play a 4-1-4-1 system against tougher opposition but will switch to 4-2-3-1 for games he believes they can and should win.

Czech Republic’s key man is West Ham’s Thomas Soucek, who can play either alongside Thomas Holes as a holding midfield pair, or further forward. Their weakness comes in defence, where veteran Ondrej Kudela has been used lately alongside Ondrej Celustka – a pairing that boasts less than 35 international caps.

Silhavy knows Czech Republic’s best chance of escaping Group D is likely to finish as one of the four best third-placed finishers. That could result in a last-16 clash with Belgium, which is where the Czech adventure at this Euros will likely finish.

Starting XI?

Meet The Team

GOALKEEPERS

Name

Club

Tomáš Vaclík

Sevilla

Aleš Mandous

Sigma Olomouc

Jiří Pavlenka

Werder Bremen

DEFENDERS

Name

Club

Pavel Kadeřábek

1899 Hoffenheim

Ondřej Čelůstka

Sparta Prague

Jakub Brabec

Viktoria Plzeň

Tomáš Holeš

Slavia Prague

Jan Bořil

Slavia Prague

Aleš Matějů

Brescia

Tomáš Kalas

Bristol City

Vladimír Coufal

West Ham United

David Zima

Slavia Prague

MIDFIELDERS

Name

Club

Antonín Barák

Hellas Verona

Michal Sadílek

Slovan Liberec

Alex Král

Spartak Moscow

Tomáš Souček

West Ham United

Jakub Jankto

Sampdoria

Petr Ševčík

Slavia Prague

Lukáš Masopust

Slavia Prague

Vladimír Darida (c)

Hertha BSC

FORWARDS

Name

Club

Patrik Schick

Bayer Leverkusen

Jakub Pešek

Slovan Liberec

Adam Hložek

Sparta Prague

Matěj Vydra

Burnley

Michael Krmenčík

PAOK

Tomáš Pekhart

Legia Warsaw