Pies’ essential lowdown on the bouncy Czechs
Group-mates Switzerland (7 June, Basel), Portugal (11 June, Geneva), Turkey (15 June, Geneva)
Three most valuable players 1) Petr Cech, Chelsea’s imposing goalie 2) Jan Koller, veteran striker still capable of striking fear into defenders’ hearts 3) Jaroslav Plasil, a wide midfielder who always seems to raise his game for his country
Hard fact The Czechs are Euro specialists: they won in 1976 (as Czechoslovakia), and reached the finals in 1996, 2000, 2004 (as the Czech Republic)
What the media say “They still have a hell of a lot going for them. Top scorer from Euro 2004? Czech. Keepers of the total-football flame now Holland are doing pragmatism? Czech. Finished above the tournament favourites Germany in qualification? Czech. Best goalkeeper in the world? Cech.” [Guardian Unlimited]
What the bookies say You can get the Czechs to win the whole thing at a best-priced 16/1 – a decent each-way shout, surely.
Pies predicts For once, they have a gentle group – but they are missing two of their best players, Tomas Rosicky and Pevel Nedved, so they won’t find it easy to get the better of hosts Switzerland and unpredictable Turkey. Even if they finish second behind Portugal, I can’t seem them progressing beyond the quarter finals. Come to think of it, I don’t think they’ll even escape their group.
Shit Lookalike Petr Cech & Captain Yamamoto
Random YouTube tribute
Full squad
Goalkeepers Petr Cech, JaromÃr Blazek, Daniel Zitka
Defenders Zdenek Grygera, Marek Jankulovski, Zdenek Pospech, Michal Kadlec, Tomas Ujfalusi, David Rozehnal
Midfielders Jan Polak, Tomas Galasek, Radoslav Kovac, David JarolÃm, Marek Matejovsky, Tomas Sivok, Rudolf Skacel, Jaroslav Plasil
Forwards Libor Sionko, Martin Fenin, Jan Koller, Vaclav Sverkos, Stanislav Vlcek, Milan Baros
Coach Karel Bruckner