They may not quite be Millwall, but Czech Republic seem to be revelling in their diminished popularity. No one likes us? We don’t care.
A survey revealed that 96 per cent of supporters wanted Michal Bilek, the head coach, sacked. Shorn of a generation of flair players, including Pavel Nedved, Patrik Berger and Karel Poborsky, the Czech players celebrated their Euro 2012 play-off victory away to Montenegro so raucously in Podgorica airport, singing songs and blasting back at their critics, that they were fined by their own football association.
Bilek, a midfielder who scored for Czechoslovakia during the 1990 World Cup finals in Italy, has been rewarded for qualification with a contract extension that takes in the next World Cup qualifying campaign.
The 1976 European champions edged their way into the finals thanks to the four points they took from Scotland to finish runners-up to Spain in group I before beating Montenegro in the play-offs. Apart from losing both games to the European champions in that campaign, they have lost only to Norway and Hungary, in friendlies, over the past 15 months.
There is an integral national pride about the Czechs, who have qualified for five successive European Championship finals since they split from Slovakia. Having reached the final of Euro ’96, where they lost to Germany on a golden goal, they overcame Germany, Holland and Denmark at Euro 2004 only to lose in the semi-final to Greece — their second opponents in group A next week — on another golden goal.
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Tactics/Coach
Bilek is the head coach, with Vladimir Smicer, the former Liverpool midfielder, as general manager. Bilek is likely to employ a 4-2-3-1 formation, built around Tomas Rosicky, behind either Milan Baros, the former Liverpool and Aston Villa striker, or Tomas Pekhart, who failed to make the grade at Tottenham Hotspur.
Strengths
Petr Cech. Unity. But the fitness of Rosicky, who has just returned to training after a calf injury, will be critical to the Czechs’ chances.
With the Arsenal playmaker as their attacking pivot, an otherwise pretty functional team have the creativity that could make the difference in a very closely contested group.
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Weaknesses
Supporters brought up on Nedved, Poborsky, Berger, Baros and Smicer have raised expectations, but, with so many significant players gone or going, this is a transitional phase for the Czech team. They do not have the necessary width to open up resolute defences.
Star player
Petr Cech has enjoyed another brilliant season for Chelsea, culminating in saving three penalties in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich. Just voted Czech player of the year for a record seventh time.
Friday, June 8: Russia v Czech Republic (Municipal Stadium, Wroclaw, 7.45pm, ITV1).
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Tuesday, June 12: Greece v Czech Republic (Municipal Stadium, Wroclaw, 5pm, ITV1).
Saturday, June 16: Czech Republic v Poland (Municipal Stadium, Wroclaw, 7.45pm, BBC One).