Czech Republic national football team

When Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia, the Czech Republic team was formed. They played their first friendly match away to Turkey on 23 February 1994. The newly formed team played their first home game in Ostrava, against Lithuania, in which they registered their first home win.

Their first competitive match was part of the UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying campaign, in which they defeated Malta 6–1 in Ostrava. During the campaign, the Czech Republic registered six wins, three draws, and a defeat against Luxembourg, finishing their qualifying Group 5 in first place, ahead of group favourites the Netherlands. In the final tournament, hosted by England, the Czechs progressed from the group stage, despite a 2–0 opening game defeat to Germany. They progressed to the UEFA Euro 1996 Final, losing 2–1 to Germany at Wembley Stadium.

The Czechs finished third in the 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifying group, behind Spain and Yugoslavia, and subsequently missed the tournament.

The Czech Republic qualified for Euro 2000, winning all of their group games and conceding five goals.[2] In the finals the team were drawn in Group D, alongside France, the Netherlands and Denmark.[3] The team lost to the Netherlands after last-minute penalty[4] and lost the second match against France, which eliminated them from advancing to the knockout round. The Czech Republic managed a 2–0 win against Denmark in their final game courtesy of two goals from Vladimír Šmicer.[4]

Once again, the Czech Republic failed to qualify for the World Cup, this time finishing second in their 2002 qualification group, behind Denmark, and then being beaten 1–0 in both legs by Belgium in the UEFA play-offs for a place in the finals.

A team settled with Pavel Nedvěd, Jan Koller, Tomáš Rosický, Milan Baroš, Marek Jankulovski, Tomáš Galásek together with the emergence of goalkeeper Petr Čech were unbeaten in 2002 and 2003, scoring 53 goals in 19 games and qualifying for Euro 2004 in the process. The Czech Republic went on a 20-game unbeaten streak, which finally ended in Dublin on 31 March 2004 in a friendly match against the Republic of Ireland.[5] The Czechs entered the Euro finals in Group D, alongside the Netherlands, Germany and Latvia.[6] The team trailed 2–0 to the Netherlands before winning the game 3–2 and beat Germany in the final group match.[7] The Czech Republic beat Denmark in the quarter-final, went into the semi-final against Greece and Tomáš Rosický hit the bar after just two minutes, Jan Koller had shots saved by the Greek goalkeeper and Pavel Nedvěd left the pitch injured in the end of the first half. It was not to be as the 90 minutes finished goalless and Greece won the game in the last minute of the first half of extra-time with a silver goal.[8]

Czech Republic (red) v Ghana (white) at the 2006 World Cup.

The Czech Republic achieved their record win during the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA), thrashing Andorra 8–1 in a qualification match in Liberec. In the same match, Jan Koller became the all-time top scorer for the national team with his 35th international goal.[9] At the end of the campaign, after finishing in second place in Group 1 then defeating Norway in a playoff, the Czechs qualified for their first FIFA World Cup.[10] The team was boosted prior to the play-off matches by the return of Pavel Nedvěd,[11] who had initially retired from international football after Euro 2004. The squad for the 2006 World Cup in Germany included 18 of the Euro 2004 team which reached the semi-finals. With the team ranked second in the world,[12] they started the tournament with a 3–0 win over the United States. During the game, however, Jan Koller was forced to leave with a hamstring injury,[13] putting him out of the tournament. In the next game, with Koller absent and Milan Baroš still recovering from injury, the team suffered a 2–0 loss to Ghana.[12] Baroš returned for the final game against Italy which the Czechs had to win to progress. The team were reduced to ten men as Jan Polák was dismissed before half-time for two bookable offences.[13] Italy went on to win 2–0. Pavel Nedvěd, Karel Poborský and Vratislav Lokvenc retired from the national team after this tournament.[14]

In the qualifying campaign for Euro 2008, they finished top of their group, above Germany on head-to-head records. The Czech Republic beat co-hosts Switzerland 1–0 in their opening game of the final tournament, before being beaten 3–1 by Portugal, meaning that they and Turkey carried identical records going into the final group game. Although the Czechs took a 2–0 lead just past the hour mark and looked set to qualify, Turkey scored three goals in the final 15 minutes of the game to win the game 3–2.[15]

The Czechs faced World Cup qualification, being drawn in Group 3, under the guidance of coach Petr Rada. They started with a 0–0 away draw against Northern Ireland, before losing to Poland. A late goal from Libor Sionko won the next game 1–0 against Slovenia. This was followed by a win against San Marino, and a goalless draw in Slovenia. In their following match, against neighbours Slovakia, a 2–1 defeat at home left Czech Republic in a precarious qualifying position. Manager Petr Rada was dismissed and six players were suspended.[16] Ivan Hašek took temporary charge as manager,[17] gaining four points from his first two matches, as the team drew away to group leaders Slovakia and thrashed San Marino 7–0 in Uherské Hradiště. They subsequently beat Poland in Prague but followed this result with a goalless draw against Northern Ireland, finishing third in the group and failing to qualify for the World Cup. Hašek announced his immediate resignation.[18]

A changed team under Michal Bílek entered the Euro 2012 qualifiers and began with a home loss to Lithuania. But a win at home to Scotland was followed by wins against Liechtenstein. Spain defeated Czech Republic in between the Liechtenstein games, but the play-off spot was still in their hands. In the next game, a last minute penalty from Michal Kadlec away to Scotland secured a 2–2 draw.[19] Despite Scotland winning their next two games and the Czechs again being defeated by Spain, the team could finish second if they could beat Lithuania away from home in the final game, assuming Spain would beat Scotland at home. Spain won 3–1 and Czech Republic defeated Lithuania 4–1 to seal second spot and a place in the play-offs. Czech Republic were drawn to face Montenegro in the two-legged play-off. A goal from Václav Pilař and a last minute second from Tomáš Sivok helped the Czechs to a 2–0 first leg lead. In the second leg in Podgorica, a late goal from Petr Jiráček sealed a 1–0 win and the Czechs ran out 3–0 aggregate winners and qualified for Euro 2012.

At the tournament, the Czechs lost their opening game 4–1 to Russia, with their only goal coming from Václav Pilař. In their second match, against Greece, the Czech Republic went 2–0 up within the first six minutes thanks to goals from Petr Jiráček and a second from Pilař. Following the half-time substitution of captain Tomáš Rosický, Greece scored a second-half goal following a mistake from Czech goalkeeper Petr Čech, although there were no more goals and the Czech Republic recorded their first win of the tournament.[20] Going into their third and final group match, the Czech Republic needed at least a draw against co-hosts Poland to advance to the knock-out stage of the tournament. A second-half strike by Jiráček proved the difference between the teams as the Czechs ran out 1–0 winners. Due to Greece beating Russia in the other group game, the Czech Republic subsequently finished top of Group A,[21] becoming the first team to ever win a group at the European Championships with a negative goal difference.[22] The Czech team faced Portugal in the quarter-finals. Portugal eventually made the breakthrough with 11 minutes remaining through a header from Cristiano Ronaldo to win the match 1–0 and eliminate Czech Republic.

Bílek stayed on as coach, despite unrest amongst fans, and was tasked with qualifying for the 2014 World Cup.[23] The Czechs were drawn into UEFA Qualifying Group B along with Italy, Denmark, Bulgaria, Armenia and Malta. The beginning of the campaign was [23] two goalless draws with Denmark and Bulgaria, paired with a narrow win against Malta, capping off their first three games. The team then lost 0–3 to Denmark at home. The team was able to win against Armenia and draw with group leaders Italy, but lost to both Armenia and Italy in the rematches.[23] Bílek resigned[23] after the loss and was replaced with assistant coach Josef Pešice.[24] In their last two games with their new coach, the Czechs recorded wins over Malta and Bulgaria but lost to Italy, leaving them in third place and ending their qualification hopes. Pešice resigned as coach following the conclusion of qualifying.

Pavel Vrba was appointed as the team's new coach on the first day of 2014, ahead of Euro 2016 qualifying.[25] The Czech team was drawn into[26] Group A, along with Netherlands, Turkey, Iceland, Latvia and Kazakhstan. The Czech team began with a win, defeating Netherlands, and followed up with victories over Turkey, Kazakhstan and Iceland, leaving them as group leaders with maximum points after four matches. A draw at home against Latvia followed; nonetheless, Czech Republic remained group leader, and on 6 September 2015, qualified for their sixth European Championship. They only got one point from a draw with Croatia, losing to Spain and Turkey. During a friendly match against Australia on 1 June 2018, the Czechs recorded their biggest defeat losing 0–4 in Sankt Pölten, Austria.[27] It was surpassed during their first qualifier for Euro 2020, as they were beaten 0–5 at Wembley Stadium by England.[28]

The following squad was called up for the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification play-off match against Sweden on 24 March and friendly match against Wales on 29 March.[31]

Caps and goals as of 29 March 2022, after the match against Wales.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
1	1GK	Tomáš Vaclík	(1989-03-29) 29 March 1989	49	0	Olympiacos
16	1GK	Jindřich Staněk	(1996-04-27) 27 April 1996	3	0	Viktoria Plzeň
23	1GK	Milan Heča	(1991-03-21) 21 March 1991	0	0	Sparta Prague
2	2DF	David Zima	(2000-11-08) 8 November 2000	7	0	Torino
3	2DF	Tomáš Holeš	(1993-03-31) 31 March 1993	17	2	Slavia Prague
4	2DF	Jakub Brabec	(1992-08-06) 6 August 1992	26	2	Aris Thessaloniki
5	2DF	Tomáš Petrášek	(1992-03-02) 2 March 1992	3	0	Raków Częstochowa
13	2DF	Aleš Matějů	(1996-06-03) 3 June 1996	11	0	Venezia
17	2DF	Milan Havel	(1994-08-07) 7 August 1994	2	0	Viktoria Plzeň
21	2DF	Jaroslav Zelený	(1992-08-20) 20 August 1992	2	0	Jablonec
6	3MF	Ladislav Krejčí	(1999-04-20) 20 April 1999	1	0	Sparta Prague
7	3MF	Antonín Barák	(1994-12-03) 3 December 1994	31	8	Hellas Verona
8	3MF	Jakub Pešek	(1993-06-24) 24 June 1993	10	4	Sparta Prague
12	3MF	Lukáš Masopust	(1993-02-12) 12 February 1993	31	2	Slavia Prague
14	3MF	Jakub Jankto	(1996-01-19) 19 January 1996	43	4	Getafe
15	3MF	Michal Sadílek	(1999-05-31) 31 May 1999	10	0	Twente
18	3MF	Jan Sýkora	(1993-12-29) 29 December 1993	14	4	Viktoria Plzeň
19	3MF	Ondřej Lingr	(1998-10-07) 7 October 1998	2	0	Slavia Prague
22	3MF	Tomáš Souček (captain)	(1995-02-27) 27 February 1995	48	9	West Ham United
9	4FW	Adam Hložek	(2002-07-25) 25 July 2002	14	1	Sparta Prague
10	4FW	Jan Kuchta	(1997-01-08) 8 January 1997	6	0	Lokomotiv Moscow
11	4FW	Tomáš Pekhart	(1989-05-26) 26 May 1989	24	2	Legia Warsaw
20	4FW	Václav Jurečka	(1994-06-26) 26 June 1994	1	0	Slovácko

The following players have also been called up to the Czech Republic squad within the last twelve months:

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
GK	Aleš Mandous	(1992-04-21) 21 April 1992	2	0	Slavia Prague	v.  Estonia, 16 November 2021
GK	Matěj Kovář	(2000-05-17) 17 May 2000	0	0	Burton Albion	v.  Ukraine, 8 September 2021
GK	Ondřej Kolář	(1994-10-17) 17 October 1994	1	0	Slavia Prague	v.  Belarus, 2 September 2021 INJ
GK	Tomáš Koubek	(1992-04-14) 14 April 1992	11	0	FC Augsburg	UEFA Euro 2020
GK	Jiří Pavlenka	(1992-08-26) 26 August 1992	14	0	Werder Bremen	UEFA Euro 2020 INJ
DF	Tomáš Kalas	(1993-05-15) 15 May 1993	31	2	Bristol City	v.  Estonia, 16 November 2021
DF	Filip Novák	(1990-06-26) 26 June 1990	28	2	Fenerbahçe	v.  Estonia, 16 November 2021
DF	Vladimír Coufal	(1992-08-22) 22 August 1992	26	1	West Ham United	v.  Estonia, 16 November 2021
DF	Filip Panák	(1995-11-02) 2 November 1995	0	0	Sparta Prague	v.  Estonia, 16 November 2021
DF	Ondřej Čelůstka	(1989-06-18) 18 June 1989	33	3	Sparta Prague	v.  Kuwait, 11 November 2021 INJ
DF	Tomáš Wiesner	(1997-07-17) 17 July 1997	3	0	Sparta Prague	v.  Kuwait, 11 November 2021 INJ
DF	Václav Jemelka	(1995-06-23) 23 June 1995	4	0	Sigma Olomouc	v.  Ukraine, 8 September 2021
DF	Filip Kaša	(1994-01-01) 1 January 1994	2	0	Viktoria Plzeň	v.  Ukraine, 8 September 2021
DF	Michal Sáček	(1996-09-19) 19 September 1996	1	0	Sparta Prague	v.  Ukraine, 8 September 2021
DF	Ondřej Kúdela	(1987-03-26) 26 March 1987	8	0	Slavia Prague	v.  Belarus, 2 September 2021 INJ
DF	Pavel KadeřábekRET	(1992-04-25) 25 April 1992	48	3	1899 Hoffenheim	UEFA Euro 2020
DF	Jan Bořil	(1991-01-11) 11 January 1991	27	0	Slavia Prague	UEFA Euro 2020
DF	Patrizio Stronati	(1994-11-17) 17 November 1994	0	0	Puskás Akadémia	v.  Wales, 30 March 2021
MF	David Pavelka	(1991-05-18) 18 May 1991	25	1	Sparta Prague	v.  Estonia, 16 November 2021
MF	Jan Kopic	(1990-06-04) 4 June 1990	27	3	Viktoria Plzeň	v.  Estonia, 16 November 2021
MF	Alex Král	(1998-05-19) 19 May 1998	29	2	West Ham United	v.  Estonia, 16 November 2021
MF	Petr Ševčík	(1994-05-04) 4 May 1994	12	0	Slavia Prague	v.  Kuwait, 11 November 2021 INJ
MF	Jaromír Zmrhal	(1993-08-02) 2 August 1993	20	1	Slovan Bratislava	v.  Belarus, 11 October 2021
MF	Pavel Bucha	(1998-03-11) 11 March 1998	0	0	Viktoria Plzeň	v.  Belarus, 11 October 2021
MF	Vladimír DaridaRET	(1990-08-08) 8 August 1990	76	8	Hertha BSC	UEFA Euro 2020
MF	Lukáš Provod	(1996-10-23) 23 October 1996	7	1	Slavia Prague	v.  Wales, 30 March 2021
MF	Tomáš Malínský	(1991-08-25) 25 August 1991	1	0	Jablonec	v.  Wales, 30 March 2021
FW	Patrik Schick	(1996-01-24) 24 January 1996	33	17	Bayer Leverkusen	v.  Sweden, 24 March 2022 INJ
FW	Matěj Vydra	(1992-05-01) 1 May 1992	46	7	Burnley	v.  Estonia, 16 November 2021
FW	Michael Krmenčík	(1993-03-15) 15 March 1993	35	9	Slavia Prague	v.  Estonia, 16 November 2021
FW	Stanislav Tecl	(1990-09-01) 1 September 1990	9	0	Slavia Prague	v.  Ukraine, 8 September 2021
FW	Martin Doležal	(1990-05-03) 3 May 1990	6	0	Zagłębie Lubin	v.  Ukraine, 8 September 2021

• ^INJ = Withdrew due to an injury.
• ^PRE = Preliminary squad.
• ^RET = Retired from international football.
• ^WD = Withdrew due to non-injury related reasons.