Czech Republic
Czechs make it seven in a row
OVERVIEW
The Czechs bounced back from a 5-0 thrashing in England in their opening qualifier to claim second place in Group A. The highlight of the campaign was a shock 2-1 win over the Three Lions in the return game in Prague.
Few teams have had their Euro 2020 preparations as severely affected by coronavirus. At short notice, the Czechs were forced to field an entirely new XI against Scotland in the Nations League in September, and coach Jaroslav Silhavy missed the return game in Glasgow in October after testing positive.
The Czechs reached the Euro ’96 final in England, and won the 1976 championship as part of Czechoslovakia. Since the Czech-Slovak split, the Czech Republic have qualified for all six Euros.
In a squad short of household names, key players include keeper Tomas Vaclik, full-backs Vladimir Coufal and Jan Boril, midfield engine Tomas Soucek, winger Jakub Jankto and striker Patrik Schick.
TACTICS
Soucek sits deeper than the other two central midfielders in a midfield trio. Captain Borek Dockal’s return from injury could force coach Silhavy to drop Hertha Berlin’s Vladimir Darida, and centre-back Jakub Brabec could make way for Tomas Kalas.