One of the surprise packets of qualifying, the Czech Republic are looking to make their mark on a tournament in which they have had varied amounts of success.
Qualifying form
The Czechs qualified for the 2016 edition of the Euros by topping Group A ahead of World Cup semi-finalists the Netherlands, surprise packets Iceland and soon-to-be group mates Turkey. Scoring 19 goals on their way to qualification, Pavel Vrba’s team only suffered two losses in their ten matches and led the group from the outset.
Vital victories, both home and away, against the Dutch were a statement of intent by the Czechs whose hard fighting style made it difficult for any team to face.
Their leaky defence was a cause for concern as they shipped 14 goals and ended qualification without a clean sheet.
While Kazakhstan and Latvia were of no concern to the top four in the group, the Czechs were pushed all the way by Iceland, who finished second, and the Turks who they will face in France.
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Euros history
Since the split of the old Czechoslovakia, the Czech Republic have appeared in every Euros since the ’96 edition. The Czechs went all the way to Wembley in ’96 and were unlucky to go down to Germany in the final, which went to extra time.
Since then, the Czechs have had an inconsistent run which has seen them exit the group as many times as they have exited the competition in the group.
Their run to the semi-finals in 2004 was built on the back of tournament top scorer Milan Baros, while in Poland and Ukraine, they exited in the quarter-finals at the hands of Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal.
Strengths
The biggest strength of this Czech side is its attitude. A team comprising of very few world-class players has banded together to show world-class team spirit.
No longer having players in the mould of Pavel Nedved or Karel Poborsky has done Pavel Vrba’s side no harm. Under his tutelage, the team has come together to display the hunger and fight needed to take it over the line.
Its ability to outscore opponents may be seen as both a positive and a negative as although it has the ability to do so, it is also a symptom of the Czechs’ main weakness.
Weaknesses
Simply put, the Czech Republic are woeful at the back.
Despite having one of the world’s best goal keepers in Petr Cech, the Republic cannot seem to go a match without conceding.
An ageing back line means opponents with speed upfront can break down the Czechs and their positioning has come into question.
A lack of potent strikers is also a downside of Vrba’s side but the team’s ability to band together and impose its will on opponents outweighed this weakness in qualifying.
Predicted finish – Round of 16
The Czechs have a tough draw in Group D as they come up against Spain, Turkey and Croatia. The Spanish may be going through a transitional period but still have the star quality to top the group.
It is then a tossup between the remaining three as to who exits in second, or even gets out as one of the best third place finishers.
Turkey troubled the Czechs in qualifying as the teams shared a win each and it will likely be that match that determines whether they exit the group.
Vrba’s side will be looking at second place as their way into the round of 16 but no team in this group can be discounted. If they do exit the group in second place, they do not have the defensive ability to go far in the tournament and will likely go out to the winner of Group E.
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