Euro 2008 team profile: Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czechs have experienced triumph and despair in these championship over the years, winning as Czechoslovakia in 1978, before crushing defeats in the 1996 final and 2004 semi, when hotly fancied against the upstart Greeks. Karel Bruckner's team is currently ranked sixth in the world.
Qualified for these finals as group winners over Germany, but it was far from the strongest pool of nations. Without Pavel Nedved and Tomas Rosicky, through retirement and injury, there lacks an obvious creative spark from midfield. The squad is experienced but not getting any younger and could struggle in a competitive group.
EURO 2008 GROUP A: CZECH REPUBLIC - PORTUGAL - SWITZERLAND - TURKEY
Coach:Karel Brückner
Goalkeepers:
Petr Čech (Chelsea FC)
Jaromír Blažek (1. FC Nürnberg)
Daniel Zítka (RSC Anderlecht)
| Defenders:
Marek Jankulovski (AC Milan)
David Rozehnal (S.S. Lazio)
Tomáš Ujfaluši (ACF Fiorentina)
Zdenĕk Pospĕch (FC København)
Zdenĕk Grygera (Juventus)
Michal Kadlec (AC Sparta Praha)
Tomáš Sivok (AC Sparta Praha)
Radoslav Kováč (FC Spartak Moskva) | Midfielders:
Tomáš Galásek (1. FC Nürnberg)
David Jarolím (Hamburger SV)
Jaroslav Plašil (CA Osasuna)
Jan Polák (RSC Anderlecht)
Marek Matĕjovský (Reading FC)
Libor Sionko (FC København)
Daniel Pudil (SK Slavia Praha)
Stanislav Vlček (RSC Anderlecht) | Forwards:
Jan Koller (1. FC Nürnberg)
Milan Baroš (Porsmouth FC)
Martin Fenin (Eintracht Frankfurt)
Václav Svĕrkoš (FC Baník Ostrava) |
Qualifying Group D |
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| Czech Republic | 12 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 27 | 5 | 29 | | Germany | 12 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 35 | 7 | 27 | | | Republic of Ireland | 12 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 17 | 14 | 17 | | Slovakia | 12 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 33 | 23 | 16 | | Wales | 12 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 18 | 19 | 15 | | Cyprus | 12 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 17 | 24 | 14 | | San Marino | 12 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 2 | 57 | 0 |
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