CZECH REPUBLIC
FIFA World Ranking: 40
Previous Best: Runners Up 1996
Last 5 Euros (Latest first): Groups-QF-Groups-SF-Groups
How Qualified: Runners Up Group A
Qualifying Record: P8 W5 D0 L3 F13 A11 GD2 Pts15
Tournament Odds: 150/1
Squad
Goalkeepers: Tomáš Koubek (Augsburg), Aleš Mandous (Olomouc), Tomáš Vaclík (Sevilla)
Defenders: Jan Bořil (Slavia Praha), Jakub Brabec (Viktoria Plzeň), Ondřej Čelůstka (Sparta Praha), Vladimír Coufal (West Ham), Pavel Kadeřábek (Hoffenheim), Tomáš Kalas (Bristol City), Tomáš Holeš (Slavia Praha), Aleš Matějů (Brescia), David Zima (Slavia Praha)
Midfielders: Antonín Barák (Verona), Vladimír Darida (Hertha Berlin), Jakub Jankto (Sampdoria), Alex Král (Spartak Moskva), Lukáš Masopust (Slavia Praha), Jakub Pešek (Sparta Praha), Michal Sadílek (Liberec), Petr Ševčík (Slavia Praha), Tomáš Souček (West Ham)
Forwards: Adam Hložek (Sparta Praha), Michael Krmenčík (PAOK), Tomáš Pekhart (Legia), Patrik Schick (Leverkusen), Matěj Vydra (Burnley)
Group Fixtures
June 14 vs Scotland (2pm – Glasgow)
June 18 vs Croatia (5pm – Glasgow)
June 22 vs England (8pm – London)
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History
Since the break up of Czechoslovakia turning the Czechs into the Czech Republic you would have to say their record in this tournament is very good. They made the final in their first attempt as a solo nation and have qualified for every renewal since then, making the semi-finals in 2004 and the last eight in 2012. Germany were the ones to deny them a historic victory at Wembley Stadium in 1996 when Karel Poborsky and his teammates wrote themselves into Czech folklore. More recently it has been the likes of Milan Baros and Pavel Nedved who have starred.
Qualifying
When you consider that the Czech Republic were placed in a group with England, second place was probably their aim throughout qualifying and they achieved that comfortably enough despite losing three of their eight matches. The highlight of their group stage came when they turned England over and that result went a long way to them making it through to these finals. That will give them confidence when they meet the Three Lions in their final group match. Patrik Schick was the top scorer in qualifying with four goals.
Pandemic Effect
I think it is fair to say that the Czechs will be quite happen to have seen the tournament delayed by 12 months as a number of their players have come to our attention, not least the West Ham pair of Tomas Soucek and Vladimir Coufal. Slavia Prague went very well in the Europa League and a large contingent of that squad have been selected for this tournament so I think the Czech Republic enter this tournament in better shape now than they would have done last summer.
Strengths
There is a lot of attacking quality in this Czech Republic line up. Premier League fans will know all about Tomas Soucek and his runs from midfield combined with his aerial threat but they have decent forward options in Leverkusen forward Patrik Schick and Burnley striker Matej Vydra, who finished the Premier League season in decent form. Seven of the Slavia Prague squad are in this squad so there should be a good continuity and spirit among it.
Weaknesses
You do worry a little bit for the Czechs through the heart of their defence where they look a little on the weak side with Tomas Kalas not really enjoying a great campaign with Bristol City. The same can be said in goal where Tomas Vaclik hasn’t been in favour with Sevilla for much of the season. While they have talent going forward there could be deemed a lack of creativity and another concern would be playing their group games away to two opponents which will require a lot of character.
Manager
Jaroslav Silhavy took over a Czech Republic side that was starting to fade quite alarmingly but he has turned their fortunes around. Not only have the Czechs qualified for this tournament but they won their Nations League group earlier in the season, coming ahead of Scotland which could be significant in this tournament. They have also drawn with Belgium in World Cup qualifying so Silhavy is getting a good tune out of a squad that certainly isn’t short of talent. He knows how to win things having won the Czech title with Slavia Prague prior to taking this job. His record as Czech boss reads: P26 W14 D1 L11.
Key Players
This is a Czech squad who have been winning a lot of domestic troubles this season but one player who didn’t claim any silverware but is going to be key to their chances of offering anything in this competition is Tomas Soucek. The West Ham midfielder is a goal threat from open play and is a huge part of set-piece attacking. Patrik Schick will hope to bring his Bundesliga form into the tournament with him and be a threat as well.
Team Bets
I’ve already said I fancy the Czech Republic to be a dark horse in this competition and one of the reasons for that has been their form this season. They won their Nations League section despite having to play a reserve side in one of the matches against closest rivals Scotland because their squad came down with Covid-19 and have started World Cup qualifying promisingly and I sense there is a progressive side in them.
The bet I like as far as their team is concerned is Tomas Soucek to be their leading scorer at the competition. He is a huge threat from set plays and I think Group D is going to be a lot about set pieces over its duration. He will also get into the box in open play and put defences under pressure. I’m not sure there is a great defence in the group so he should get plenty of opportunities and if he can bag himself three goals he could well land this punt at 6/1.
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