UEFA Euro 2024 Team Previews: Czech Republic

UEFA Euro 2024 Team Previews: Czech Republic

UEFA Euro 2024 is just weeks away from kicking off in Germany. Over the next 17 days, we will be previewing each team that will be taking part in Europe’s biggest football tournament. Check out all of the team previews that have been done so far. Up next is the Czech Republic.

The Czech Republic had a strong Euro 2024 qualifying campaign, losing just once. They finished second in their group behind Albania on head-to-head scores. Since that loss, they have rarely faltered. Over the next seven matches, the Czechs have won six of them while drawing the other. They head into Euro 2024 having won five straight, not allowing more than a goal in any of them. Their recent success has seen them rise to 36th in the latest FIFA rankings.

Euro Appearances

Since the dissolution of Czechoslovakia, there has not been a Euro without the Czech Republic. They have made the past seven tournaments with Euro 2024 being the eighth straight for the Czechs. This streak started at Euro 1996.

Best Finish at the Euros

Similar to the Slovakia preview, the results from the era of Czechoslovakia will not be included. Since 1996, the Czech Republic has made the semifinals at the Euros twice. In 2004, they lost 1-0 to surprise champions Greece after a golden goal in extra time won it for the Greeks. They had better luck in 1996 when the Czechs beat France on penalties to advance to the final. Unfortunately for them, they fell to Germany 2-1 in yet another golden goal situation. The runners-up finish was their best to date.

Key players

One of the youngest teams at Euro 2024 will be the Czech Republic. Just two players are over the age of 30. Those are Tomáš Holeš (31) and Vladimír Coufal (31). This results in very few caps for the players with West Ham and the captain Tomáš Souček leading the way with 69 caps. Injuries have played a role with Souček’s midfield partner Michal Sadílek missing out on Euro 2024 after a bike accident just days ago. He will be a big loss as he played at Euro 2020 and is strong in the midfield. Instead, the Czechs will have to rely on the likes of Lukáš Provod and Antonín Barák to make a run at the Euros.

In the attack, Patrik Schick will be the target man. The forward from Bayer Leverkusen has scored 19 goals for his nation. However, he did not play in Euro 2024 qualifying while recovering from an injury. He did score seven goals in 20 Bundesliga matches once he recovered and scored in the most recent friendly against North Macedonia. The goalkeeping situation is one to watch as well since Jindřich Staněk leads the way with 10 caps. That is far more than Matěj Kovář, who has two, and Vítězslav Jaroš, who has a single appearance for the Czechs.

Manager

The Czech Republic made a recent change in their manager. Jaroslav Šilhavý did not wish to continue despite a strong qualifying campaign. That meant that former manager Ivan Hašek was back in charge. Hašek had previously managed the Czechs in 2009 and started his second stint at the beginning of 2024. He has only managed four matches but is perfect and has seen his side outscore their opponents 13-4.

Biggest Group Game – vs Portugal on June 18

While the match with Turkey may end up being the most important, the Czech’s match against Portugal could change all that. If the Czech Republic can come out and grab a point, if not all three against Portugal, then a win over Georgia could see them advance to the knockout stage before even having to take on Turkey. Points in their opening match against the group favorite would be a massive confidence boost as well.

Prediction

Group F is such a toss-up that I can see the Czech Republic finishing anywhere from first to third. However, I believe that they will fall to Portugal and beat Georgia to set up a winner-takes-second match against Turkey which they will prevail to finish second in the group. Unfortunately for the Czechs, this would see a round-of-16 match against France or the Netherlands. I picked France to win that group, and I think they will send the Czech Republic home in the round of 16.

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