Euro 2012 Team Guide: Czech Republic

Road to Euro 2012

Fortune has smiled on the Czech Republic, both in their draw for the main tournament, and in the route that they were able to plot through qualifying. The Czechs lost their opening qualifying match at home against Lithuania, but after a couple of defeats against Spain, and a fair bit of luck, they were able to scrape into the play offs with just 13 points. Had they not won a ridiculous late penalty against Scotland at Hampden Park, then it would be Craig Levein's team who would have been facing off against Montenegro for a place in Euro 2012. To be frank, Michal Bilek's team probably has about as much chance of outright glory this summer as Levein's would have. They're currently trading at 100.099/1 to win Euro 2012, and I couldn't have them in a million years

The Manager

One of the problems faced by any manager of the Czech national side is trying to live up to constant comparisons with the team that reached the final of Euro 96, and the the more mature version of that side that went to the semis at Euro 2004. Just because Michal Bilek's 2012 vintage doesn't contain a host of Nedveds and Smicers doesn't make him a bad coach. He has had the job since late 2009 after acting as the assistant to the previous coach, Ivan Hasek, and despite not winning any of his first four matches in charge he has done a decent job under difficult circumstances. Bilek was a good player, scoring 11 goals in 35 appearances for his country, and one of the underlying ironies of the Czech challenge for Euro 2012, is that he is exactly the kind of player that the team is missing.

The Star

The fact that you struggle so much to find an outfield star for the Czech Republic emphasises just how hard their task is at Euro 2012. Tomas Rosicky's form towards the end of Arsenal's season would qualify him, but I'm yet to be convinced that he's anything like the player that he was. I'd much rather opt for one of the youngish Plzen players who have at least managed to inject Bilek's squad with some sought after flair. Daniel Kolar and Milan Petrzela are both in their late twenties, and both at the start of their international careers, but I thought that they acquitted themselves particularly well in Plzen's Champions League campaign and if Bilek is brave then they should both start. Vladimir Darida is another Plzen midfielder who has made the final cut and is another who may feature. Kolar is a goal threat from midfield and is a fair bet to finish as the top Czech Republic goalscorer, while Petrzela is worth a look to score, possibly against Poland, whose system suits the kind of runs that he likes to make. He scored in the Cup Final a couple of years ago, and may get another big goal here.

The Rock

Petr Cech has been just about the perfect definition of a rock in the second half of Chelsea's lunatic season. As if producing the save of the century in the FA Cup final wasn't enough, he followed that up by coming up with key penalty saves in the Champions League final. Only Didier Drogba could be described as having a more decisive hand in the course of Chelsea's season. All of this means that Cech has recovered from the mistakes that had started to creep into his game and lead some people to question his future at the top level. He is back to being one of the best around, and the only goalkeepers that I see regularly who I rate as highly are Joe Hart, Gigi Buffon and Marc Andre Ter Stegen. I hate the word "worldy", but Cech will have to have a few if his team are to get anywhere at Euro 2012.

The Youngster

I remember watching Tomas Pekhart at the Under 20 World Cup five years ago and being really impressed. It wasn't a huge surprise when Tottenham Hotspur decided to take a risk on him, but he wasn't quite ready for the Premier League and instead he has started to make a decent living in Germany. A bare look at his statistics won't hugely impress you, but what he has done well for Nurnberg, and what will be important in this Czech side, is run hard, worked channels and taken chances when they have come his way. Given the way that Bilek sets up his team this kind of player will prove vital. Expect the evergreen and always frustrating Milan Baros to feature, but the 22 year old Pekhart and another youngster in the shape of Tomas Necid will both have important roles to play, at least as substitutes, and possibly as starters. Pekhart will never match his Under 21 achievements, when he scored 17 goals in 26 appearances, but he'll have an important part to play if the Czechs are to progress.

The Bet

The Czech Republic's best chance of winning a major title didn't come at Wembley in 1996, but eight years later in Portugal, when they comprehensively outplayed Greece in the semi final, only to lose their nerve and fail to score. It was the Czechs more than anyone who threw away that title. This squad contains some of the players from that particular group, but they're past their best now and it's not that difficult to make a case for the Czech Republic being the worst team at the finals. That said, their draw gives them a chance, and if Petr Cech can continue his recent inspirational form, then I suppose they'll even start to bring back memories of Peter Schmeichel in 1992. I can't have them at 4.94/1 to win their Group, and if I was forced, the best bet is to back them to finish Rock Bottom of Group A at 3.39/4.