Czech Republic Euro 2024 Squad: Who is Ivan Hasek Bringing to Germany?

Which 26 players is Czech Republic head coach Ivan Hasek taking to the 2024 European Championship in Germany?

Arguably the surprise package of Euro 2020, where they reached the quarter-finals, the Czech Republic maintained their perfect qualifying record for every Euros since the dissolution of Czechoslovakia.

They finished second in their qualifying group – and will face Portugal, Turkey and Georgia at Euro 2024 in Germany.

Having said that, Czechs did not have the ideal preparation ahead of the Euros in the summer though, as their manager Jaroslav Silhavy resigned after a string of poor performances that nearly cost them a qualifying spot.

After that underwhelming qualification, he submitted his resignation and was replaced by Ivan Hasek, who temporarily led the national team in 2009.

GOALKEEPERS

Although Bayer Leverkusen absolutely flew in the Bundesliga this season under the tutelage of Xabi Alonso, Matej Kovar was largely restricted to the cup goalkeeper role with veteran Lukas Hradecky maintaining the No. 1 spot at BayArena.

However, the stopper has a chance of being the No. 1 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 picked to provide backup in between the sticks.

DEFENDERS

Hasek has several natural centre-back options in Slavia Prague trio David Zima, Tomas Holes, and Tomas Vlcek, as well as Sparta Prague duo Ladislav Krejci and Martin Vitík, the latter was named the best Czech youth footballer of the year 2023.

West Ham’s Vladimir Coufal was banished from the Czech Republic squad for breaking team rules during the November international break and, while he wasn’t called up for the March friendlies, he returns for the Euros.

Vladimir Coufal – West Ham
David Jurásek – Hoffenheim
David Zima – Slavia Prague
David Douděra – Slavia Prague
Ladislav Krejčí – Sparta Prague
Martin Vitik – Sparta Prague
Robin Hranáč – Viktoria Plzen
Tomáš Holeš – Slavia Prague
Tomáš Vlček – Slavia Prague

MIDFIELDERS

West Ham United midfielder and Czech Republic captain Tomáš Souček is one of the first names on the team sheet as one of the most experienced players in the squad with over 65 caps.

Slavia Prague duo Lukas Provod and Lukas Sadilek will likely battle it out for the other spots in the midfield double pivot or trifecta.

Fiorentina’s Antonin Barak, Feyenoord’s Ondrej Lingr, and Wolfsburg’s Vaclav Cerny are all attacking midfielders by trade, and will likely operate further forward.

Antonin Barak – Fiorentina
Lukáš Provod – Slavia Prague
Lukáš Sadílek – Sparta Prague
Lukas Červ – Viktoria Plzen
Matěj Jurásek – Slavia Prague
Ondřej Lingr – Feyenoord
Pavel Šulc – Viktoria Plzen
Tomáš Souček – West Ham
Václav Černý – Wolfsburg

FORWARDS

Mojmir Chytil is one of a few promising young attacking options for Hasek, along with Adam Hlozek and Matej Jurasek, joining the more experienced pair of Patrik Schick and Tomas Chory.

Jan Kuchta – Sparta Prague
Adam Hložek – Bayer Leverkusen
Mojmír Chytil – SK Slavia Prague
Patrik Schick – Bayer Leverkusen
Tomáš Chorý – Viktoria Plzen

EXPECTED XI

Czech Republic boss Ivan Hasek is expected to set his side up in a direct 3-4-1-2 system, which is not focused a lot on positional football and involves transitional play to create good-quality chances.

Stanek will likely get the nod above Kovar in goal, behind a back three comprising Zima, Krejci and Holes.

Captain Soucek and Sadilek will look to hold the fort in the middle of the park.

Jurasek and Coufal will feature as wing-backs. Patrik Schick will lead the charge for the Czechs in the final third. He would have to carry most of the goal-scoring burden up top and will have the support from Leverkusen teammate Hlozek and Sulc.

Czech Republic predicted XI (3-4-1-2): Stanek; Zima, Krejci, Holes; Jurasek, Soucek, M Sadilek, Coufal; Sulc; Schick, Hlozek.

Would you like us to write about your business? Find out more