Czech Republic have announced their 25-man squad for this summer's highly-anticipated Euro 2024 in Germany.
After a qualifying campaign which began to stutter near its conclusion, Narodak finished second in their section, placing above Poland, Moldova and the Faroe Islands to automatically book a place on the continental stage in June, only being bested by group winners Albania on head-to-head record.
To many, Czech Republic were the surprise package of the most recent edition of the Euros, in which they navigated a group containing Gareth Southgate's England and a last-16 tie with the Netherlands to reach the quarter-final stage, where Denmark narrowly came out on top in Azerbaijan.
There has been plenty of change to the coaching staff in the build-up to this summer's trip across Europe to Germany, with former boss Jaroslav Silhavy resigning at the end of 2023 due to a poor end to qualifying, with Ivan Hasek now tasked with guiding his homeland to continental glory.
The 60-year-old briefly managed Narodak in 2009 but this will be his first taste of coaching the country at a major tournament, with Czech Republic being placed in Group F with Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal, Turkey and newcomers Georgia.
Here, Sports Mole takes a look at Czech Republic's squad for Euro 2024, who has been selected and who are the unfortunate players to miss out.
Which Czech Republic stars are going to Euro 2024?
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One of three Bayer Leverkusen players selected in Hasek's 25-man squad, goalkeeper Matej Kovar has been forced to settle for the role of second choice under Xabi Alonso this season at the Bundesliga winners, however the stopper has a chance of being the main main for his nation.
Slavia Prague's Jindrich Stanek has been the starter for Narodak during recent qualifying matches, though, whilst former Stockport County and Notts County loanee Vitezslav Jaros - who is currently on the books of Liverpool - has been included to provide backup in between the sticks.
Despite being banished from international duties in November for breaking team rules and missing out on selection in March, West Ham United's Vladimir Coufal is back in the squad ahead of this summer's Euros, with the Hammers man set to start at wing-back.
The majority of Hasek's backline options are made up of players who ply their trade at the highest level of Czech football, including David Zima, David Doudera, Ladislav Krejci and Martin Vitik, with the latter being named as the young Czech footballer of the year in 2023.
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Although he has struggled massively for regular game time in the Bundesliga this term - starting just four league fixtures for Hoffenheim - David Jurasek has been included in the 25-man contingent for the Euros, with the 23-year-old looking set to feature at left-back.
Embodying the definition of a midfield enforcer, West Ham's Tomas Soucek joins his club teammate Coufal at the Euros, with the former Slavia Prague man aiming to add to his tally of 69 senior caps and 12 goals this summer, all while burdening the responsibility of captain.
After finishing second in the Czech top flight's goalscoring charts this season with 18 strikes, 23-year-old Pavel Sulc has been brought into the squad for the Euros, despite only making his international debut in March versus Erling Haaland's Norway.
A pair of Leverkusen pals make up a section of Hasek's attacking options this summer, with Adam Hlozek and Scotland-haunting Patrik Schick preparing to battle the likes of Tomas Chory and Mojmir Chytil for spots at the business end of the pitch in Germany.
Which Czech Republic players will miss Euro 2024?
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Czech Republic have suffered a major injury blow in the build-up to this summer's competition, with FC Twente midfielder Michal Sadilek being forced to withdraw from selection after falling of a bike and suffering a laceration on his leg on June 8, meaning that Narodak's squad size has been reduced to 25 for now.
Although Hosek has placed his trust in a host of men playing for either one of Prague's top sides, Czech Republic fans will not be cheering on Vaclav Jurecka at the Euros in Germany, with the striker missing out on selection despite winning the Golden Boot in the Czech first division this season.
Jaroslav Zeleny would have been feeling pretty confident about his chances of selection this summer after featuring in Hosek's first two matches back in charge of Narodak in March, however the left-back has been excluded from the travelling party, failing to join fellow Sparta Prague defenders Krejci and Vitik.
Having only earned his maiden international appearance during March's friendly clash with Armenia, Adam Gabriel was dreaming of a place on the Czech Republic plane, although Hosek has now opted for different options on the right side of his team's backline.
Czech Republic's squad for Euro 2024
Goalkeepers: Jindrich Stanek (Slavia Prague), Matej Kovar (Bayer Leverkusen), Vitezslav Jaros (Sturm Graz)
Defenders: Ladislav Krejci (Sparta Prague), Martin Vitik (Sparta Prague), Robin Hranac (Viktoria Plzen), Tomas Vlcek (Slavia Prague), Vladimir Coufal (West Ham United), David Doudera (Slavia Prague), David Jurasek (Hoffenheim), Tomas Holes (Slavia Prague), David Zima (Slavia Prague)
Midfielders: Tomas Soucek (West Ham United), Antonin Barak (Fiorentina), Lukas Provod (Slavia Prague), Pavel Sulc (Viktoria Plzen), Matej Jurasek (Slavia Prague), Vaclav Cerny (Wolfsburg), Lukas Cerv (Viktoria Plzen), Ondrej Lingr (Slavia Prague)
Attackers: Patrik Schick (Bayer Leverkusen), Adam Hlozek (Bayer Leverkusen), Mojmir Chytil (Slavia Prague), Tomas Chory (Viktoria Plzen), Jan Kuchta (Sparta Prague)
Manager - Ivan Hasek
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Ahead of an eighth straight European Championships appearance, Czech Republic manager Ivan Hasek has vowed that his side "will try to play football that pleases the fans", although there is also likely to be a large dose of pragmatism from a coach who will be desperate to nullify the threat of Ronaldo and company in the group stage.
The 60-year-old was a household name in his country during the 1980s and 1990s, earning 55 caps for Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic, captaining the team to a quarter-final appearance at the 1990 World Cup in Italy, where a Hasek-led outfit lost out to eventual champions West Germany.
Following the resignation of former boss Jaroslav Silhavy in November - after the pressure of managing Narodak had seemingly taken its toll - Hasek was whisked into the hotseat, enjoying his secondary spell in command so far, winning back-to-back matches in March against Norway and Armenia.
Although Hasek will take charge of the Czech Republic at a major tournament for the first time at Euro 2024, this summer's trip to Germany is not the former midfielder's first managerial rodeo at the national side, with the ex-Lebanon coach holding down the fort on an interim basis for four matches during 2009.
Group & Fixtures
June 18: Portugal 2-1 Czech Republic (8pm | Leipzig Stadium, Leipzig)
June 22: Georgia 1-1 Czech Republic (2pm | Volksparkstadion, Hamburg)
June 26: Czech Republic 1-2 Turkey (8pm | Volksparkstadion, Hamburg)
All kickoff times BST
Carter White
