The Czech Republic has announced its 26-man squad for the upcoming European Championship, with a notable highlight being the inclusion of three Bayer Leverkusen stars who have recently etched their names in the annals of football history by winning the Bundesliga and the German Cup without a single defeat. Forwards Patrik Schick and Adam Hlozek, along with goalkeeper Matej Kovar, are expected to bring their winning mentality to the national team.
Coach Ivan Hasek, unveiling the squad on Tuesday, emphasized his faith in the players selected. “I trust these players and hope they’re ready to fight for us to be successful,” Hasek stated. His selection is also aimed at propelling the Czech team through a challenging Group F in the tournament.
Leading the squad is West Ham United’s resilient midfielder Tomas Soucek, who has been named captain. Soucek’s clubmate and right-back Vladimir Coufal also made the squad, fortifying the Czech defense with his Premier League experience.
Viktoria Plzen midfielder Lukas Cerv, earning his first call-up, represents the infusion of new blood into the team, bringing fresh energy and a hunger to prove himself on the international stage.
The full squad selection is as follows:
Goalkeepers:
– Jindrich Stanek (Slavia Prague)
– Matej Kovar (Leverkusen)
– Vitezslav Jaros (Sturm Graz)
Defenders:
– Vladimir Coufal (West Ham)
– David Doudera (Slavia Prague)
– Tomas Holes (Slavia Prague)
– Robin Hranac (Viktoria Plzen)
– Ladislav Krejci (Sparta Prague)
– David Zima (Slavia Prague)
– Tomas Vlcek (Slavia Prague)
– David Jurasek (Hoffenheim)
– Martin Vitik (Sparta Prague)
Midfielders:
– Tomas Soucek (West Ham)
– Michal Sadilek (Twente)
– Antonin Barak (Fiorentina)
– Lukas Provod (Slavia Prague)
– Ondrej Lingr (Feyenoord)
– Vaclav Cerny (Wolfsburg)
– Matej Jurasek (Slavia Prague)
– Pavel Sulc (Viktoria Plzen)
– Lukas Cerv (Viktoria Plzen)
Forwards:
– Patrik Schick (Leverkusen)
– Jan Kuchta (Sparta Prague)
– Tomas Chory (Viktoria Plzen)
– Mojmir Chytil (Slavia Prague)
– Adam Hlozek (Leverkusen)
The Czech squad will commence their training camp in Schladming, Austria, a picturesque setting aimed at providing the perfect environment for preparation. They are set to play two warm-up matches: against Malta in Grodig, Austria, on June 7, followed by a clash with North Macedonia in Hradec Kralove on June 10. These matches will be crucial for Hasek to fine-tune his strategies and finalize his starting lineup.
The Czech Republic faces a formidable challenge in Group F, opening their campaign against Portugal on June 18 in Leipzig. They will then play against Georgia on June 22, followed by a match against Turkey in Hamburg on June 26.
With the blend of unbeaten champions from Leverkusen and seasoned international players, Czech Republic’s squad holds promise. Fans and analysts alike are eager to see if this carefully selected team can bring glory to their nation on the European stage.
