Czech Republic

ANOTHER UNDERDOG SHOWING REMAINS A REAL POSSIBILITY

Back in England for another major tournament a quarter of a century after their incredible run to the Euro 96 Final, the Czechs travel to the UK with a buoyant mood and a settled squad. They’re unencumbered by expectation, and bring a team of promising young players and hungry internationals from Europe’s top five leagues, so another underdog showing remains a possibility for coach Jaroslav Silhavy.

Perhaps more than most, he has benefitted from the tournament’s postponement. Tomas Soucek – he of the granite forehead and Marouane Fellaini- esque elbows – and full- back Vladimir Coufal already delivered solid performances for Slavia Prague, but not even the most ardent red- and- whites fan would have expected the level both have reached in West Ham’s excellent 2020- 21 Premier League campaign.

Meanwhile, the Czechs’ best forward, Patrik Schick – on loan at RB Leipzig last term – has finally sorted out his future by leaving Roma for Bayer Leverkusen. The 25- year- old looks settled, and by mid- April he had scored 13 goals in 29 appearances for his new club.

Then there’s the youngsters. Many were only on the verge of the squad last June, but have progressed rapidly over the past 12 months. Sparta Prague winger Adam Hlozek ended the 2019– 20 season goal- hungry and earned a first senior cap in September’s Nations League win away to Slovakia, before fracturing a metatarsal a month later. Though the highly- rated 18- year- old – who, obviously, is interesting West Ham – was ruled out until March, he has time to re- find his top form.

That being said, no Czech side has ever been about individuals, not even in Pavel Nedved’s era: the blond assassin made his first big transfer after Euro 96, not before, as did Karel Poborsky and Vladimir Smicer. Team spirit, tactical preparation, defensive organisation and a well- balanced squad tend to trump all.

Boosted psychologically by their promotion to Nations League A, Silhavy’s troops also know what to expect in this group: they’d already beaten England in qualifying when they pipped Scotland to top spot in their Nations League division. Their football is unlikely to be beautiful, but they will be tough to beat. Just ask anyone who has had to mark Soucek...

LESSON FROM QUALIFYING

Be braver against their hosts. The Czechs lost three of their four away matches in qualifying, with an early 5- 0 mauling at Wembley – admittedly over two years ago now – followed by defeats in Kosovo and Bulgaria. They’ve no home comforts here.

STRENGTHS

A cliché it may well be, but do not underestimate team spirit. Flavoured with tactical maturity, excellent organisation and a serious set- piece threat, it all mixes together to make a five- star cocktail.

WEAKNESSES

Though they don’t concede many, this Czech side is short of a top centre- back or two – Bristol City’s Tomas Kalas is as good as it gets. In March, they even let the petite Daniel James score a header, which gave Wales a late win in a crucial World Cup qualifier. It’s a deficiency for which they may pay a heavy price, especially against top teams who boast fast forwards and/ or Harry Kane.

MOST LIKELY TO...

Win a David Luiz lookalike competition, thanks to midfielder Alex Kral ( another player linked, with crushing inevitability, to West Ham). Also, you won’t hear overconfident quotes aimed at raising expectations. The Czechs love being underdogs nearly as much as they love potato salad, and when hopes have risen too high in the past, the team has struggled under the burden.

LEAST LIKELY TO...

Recover from defeat in the first match. They managed it in Euro 96 and in 2012 to make it into the knockout stages – and way beyond, in the former case – but this time it would be tricky, with Croatia and England to follow their Scotland opener.

WHAT THEY HOPE WILL HAPPEN

Earn four points from the first two games, which would almost certainly be enough to take them out of the group, then spring a surprise in the last 16.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN

Reaching the last 16 is possible, finishing third in Group D with a morale- boosting win somewhere along the way. They’re unlikely to go much further, however.