Profile Czech Republic Squad

Czech Republic Coach

Start of the qualifying campaign encouraged coach Michal Bilek to switch his formation, with Tomas Rosicky now playing centrally behind a lone striker Tomas Pekhart or Milan Baros.

The performances of deep-lying midfielder Jaroslav Plasil have been key to their progress, giving the Czechs more creativity, while wide forwards Jan Rezek and Vaclav Pilar are supported by offensive-thinking full-backs Theodor Gebre Selassie and Michal Kadlec. A largely organised side that likes to break on the counter-attack, captain Petr Cech says their strength is their adaptability.

Household names in the Czech squad are few and far between, but Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech needs no introduction. The 29-year-old kept clean sheets in both play-off matches against Montenegro, making several important saves in the second-leg victory in Podgorica.

Czech Republic Squad

Cech, who is set to take part in his fourth major international tournament, will be keen to erase memories of his costly error against Turkey at Euro 2008. The Czechs were heading for the quarter-finals until Cech fumbled a routine cross in the 87th minute, allowing Nihat Kahveci to equalise. Moments later Cech was again beaten by Nihat, sending the Czechs out.