EURO 2012 Qualification – Match Preview: Czech Republic versus Scotland
Czech Republic will be working hard to make it back to the big stage as they host Scotland at the Synot Tip Arena in Prague. Czechs, who were once a dominant force in international football, have faded away in recent years due
to bad qualification campaigns and below par performances from their valued players. However as the Scots pay a visit to Eastern Europe, they give Rosicky and co. the perfect opportunity to announce their arrival on the big stage. Nonetheless, such things
are easier said than done as in their first match of the qualification campaign for the European Championships of 2012, Czech’s lost at home to the European minnows Lithuania.
It was a humiliating defeat for the Czechs who will be fired up to get their qualification hopes back on track. After missing out in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, Czech Republic have a massive rebuilding job to do. In
all honesty, the men in red and white have not recovered from the loss of their star midfielder and the former European player of the year, Pavel Nedved to retirement.
Nedved’s retirement from international football was followed up by Jan Koller’s retirement from international duty in late 2009. These two incidents had a damning effect on Czech Republic’s international squad but it doesn’t end
there. For the past two years, Czech footballs golden boy, Tomas Rosicky has also gone through a torrid run of form which has been compounded by his frequent breakdown in fitness levels.
For their matchup against Scotland, Czechs have called up the in-form Tomas Rosicky, who has been playing regular for Arsenal in the 2010-2011 English Premier League season so far. Another English league player that Czechs are
banking upon is Chelsea’s star goalkeeper, Petr Cech; Cech has been Czech Republic’s first choice goalkeeper for the past four years. His calming influence at the back will be vital if Czechs indeed wish to qualify for the European Championships of 2012.
However, Národní tým as the Czech Football team is known in Czech Republic will be without the services of their main striker, Milan Baros. Baros, who famously played for Liverpool F.C in the English Premier League, is sidelined
due to a thigh injury. Milan’s injury has paved way for the youthful eighteen year old striker Vaclav Kaldec who is set to feature for Czech Republic in their encounter against Scotland in Prague. Czech Republic’s second string striker, Martin Fenin is also
absent due to his own fitness problems and thus Michal Bilek, the Czech coach has called up Lukas Magera to the Czech squad to fill up for his compatriots absence.
As far as Scotland are concerned, they are unbeaten in their first two qualifiers as they achieved a goalless draw against Lithuania in their first match of the qualification stages and then managed to steal a late win against
Lichtenstein in their second qualification match. Their unbeaten start means that they are in top form and morale, thus they are a dangerous outfit to be playing at this moment in time. With four points from two matches, they are favourites to qualify for
the European Championships as well but they will be without their first choice goalkeeper Alan McGregor and the right back Alan Hutton for their trip to Prague.
Moreover, Scott Brown also misses out on the trip to Eastern Europe due to his ankle injury but the midfielder might recover in time to face Spain next week in Scotland’s fourth scheduled qualification match. Phil Bardsley is set
to make his debut for the Scottish national team after the Sunderland player was called up for the first time by his national team coach due to Jan McEveley’s injury. Scotland are outside favourites to win this match actually but Czech’s do have enough about
them to at least get a goalless draw but if they do play to their true abilities, Michal Bilek’s side can also come away with all three points from this tough encounter.
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