Euro 2008

Bruckner: underpaid but an excellent coach nonetheless

Coach
Karel BRÜCKNER: 68-year-old mastermind of the Czechs’ run to the semi finals of Euro 2004, a tournament many observers felt they deserved to win. Is loyal to the core of Czech players and has a positive, progressive attitude to the game that belies his ‘veteran’ image.

Goalkeepers
Jaromír BLAZEK (Nuremberg): 35-year-old perpetual substitute keeper who has been in every finals squad since Euro 2000. Briefly dropped, Paul Robinson-style, during Nuremberg’s poor season which ended in relegation.

Petr CECH (Chelsea): Arguably the best goalkeeper on the planet wears a distinctive headguard following his horrific skull fracture at Reading in October 2006. Is vital to the team’s success.

Daniel ZÍTKA (Anderlecht): Made his international début at 32 and is thought to be the best keeper in the Belgian league.

Defenders
Zdenek GRYGERA (Juventus): Versatile 28-year-old defender most commonly employed at right-back in international football. His season has been beset by injuries but should keep his place in the team if fit.

Marek JANKULOVSKI (Milan): Sharp-shooting, free-kick taking attacking left wing-back who scored a fine goal in the UEFA Super Cup win over Sevilla. Another player whose year has been broken up by injury problems.

Michal KADLEC (Sparta Prague): Left-back whose father Miroslav scored the winning penalty in the Euro 96 semi-final shoot-out against France. Still largely untested at the highest level.

Radoslav KOVÁC (Spartak Moscow): Can play as a defensive midfielder but usually found in the centre of defence. Will challenge Rozehnal for a starting place.

Zdenek POSPECH (Copenhagen): The right-back has struggled in Denmark this season but has the assets to become an international regular. Regular goalscorer in club football, his ability in the air belies his short physique.

David ROZEHNAL (Lazio): Wisely offloaded by Kevin Keegan, is on loan at the Stadio Olimpico having underwhelmed at Newcastle in the first half of the season. Takes no prisoners but is not a top class defender.

Tomás UJFALUSI (Fiorentina): Versatile, he can play on the right or in the middle. The Czechs’ best defender, he courted controversy when, after a 2-1 home defeat to Germany in qualifying, there was reported misbehaviour at his 29th birthday party.

Midfielders
Tomás GALÁSEK (Nuremberg): Veteran holding midfielder who may resume his rôle as captain, held at the last World Cup, in the absence of the injured Rosicky.

David JAROLÍM (Hamburg): Right-sided or central attacking midfielder, has big shoes to fill in replacing Karel Poborsky as the provider of the Czechs’ thrust down the right. Son of Slavia Prague coach Karel.

Marek MATEJOVSKY (Reading): Has just experienced relegation from the Premier League but has impressed at the Madejski Stadium. Scored one of the goals of the season at Anfield in March. Likely to fill in for the absent Rosicky as playmaker.

Jaroslav PLASIL (Osasuna): Versatile but likely to be employed as a right-footed left-winger who produced an inspired performance as the Czechs won 3-0 in Munich in qualifying last October. His wife is a Brazilian ballet dancer.

Jan POLÁK (Anderlecht): Was sent off against Italy as the Czechs tumbled out of the 2006 World Cup at the group stage. Can cover for Galásek or play on the left, a likely starter ahead of Plasil.

Libor SIONKO (Copenhagen): Right-winger not widely regarded as an adequate successor to Karel Poborsky or Vladimír Smicer. Scored on his Rangers début in 2006 but his time at Ibrox was beset by injury.

Tomás SIVOK (Sparta Prague): On loan from Udinese, a hard-working defensive midfielder who has benefitted from his return to the Czech league.

Rudi SKÁCEL (Hertha Berlin): Left-sided midfielder, once of Hearts, now on loan in Germany from Southampton. Called up as a late replacement for the unfortunate Daniel Pudil.

Strikers
Milan BAROS (Portsmouth): Has flattered to deceive since his loan from Lyon in January, the Euro 2004 Golden Boot winner failed to score at Fratton Park and was left out of the FA Cup final starting XI.

Martin FENIN (Eintracht Frankfurt): Exciting 21-year-old striker who scored a superb goal in the 2007 Under-20 World Cup Final against Argentina in Canada. Scored a hat-trick on his Frankfurt début but yet to find the target in a full international.

Jan KOLLER (Nuremberg): The giant veteran was going stale at Monaco so joined the German side in January but couldn’t prevent relegation on the final day of the season. Deadly in the air, he was badly missed as injury kept him out of all but the first few minutes of the 2006 World Cup.

Václav SVERKOS (Baník Ostrava): Untried 24-year-old who struggled in Germany but is recovering some form in the Czech league. An unexpected selection ahead of Marek Kulic and David Lafata, who both scored goals in qualifying.

Stanislav VLCEK (Anderlecht): Hard-running forward often used as a substitute due to his versatility and ability to cause problems for tiring defenders. Yet to score for the Czech Republic.

Wish You Were Here?
Tomás ROSICKY (Arsenal): By far the best outfield player in the country but requires surgery after picking up an injury in the FA Cup tie with Newcastle what Arsène Wenger described as a ’strange’ injury. Will be impossible to replace.

Daniel PUDIL (Slavia Prague): Left-sided midfielder or left-back, one of too many unremarkable midfielders in the squad as Karel Brückner searches for replacements for the Czechs’ ‘golden generation’ until a broken bone in his hand forced him out of the final squad.

Tags: Czech Republic, Euro 2008, Karel Bruckner, Milan Baros, Petr Cech

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