Czech Republic v Portugal Preview

The group stages are done and dusted and the UEFA EURO 2012 quarter-finals get under way today when the Czech Republic take on Portugal at the National Stadium in Warsaw.

Both teams arrive at knockout stage having bounced back from opening defeats in their respective groups to win their other two games. Portugal were beaten 1-0 by Germany in their first outing but stormed back with victories over Denmark and Holland to finish second in Group B. The Czechs reached the last eight as Group A winners, rebounding from an opening 4-1 defeat to Russia to beat Greece and co-hosts Poland.

The clash is a repeat of the Euro 1996 quarter-final, when the Czech Republic stunned the Portuguese with a 1-0 win thanks to Karel Poborsky’s memorable scoop goal. Their only other meeting since the split of Czechoslovakia 19 years ago came at the 2008 tournament, when Portugal gained revenge with a 3-1 victory in the group stage.

TEAM NEWS

Czech Republic

The Czechs have been dealt a blow with the news Tomas Rosicky will not feature in the starting line-up after struggling to make a full recovery from an Achilles injury. The Arsenal midfielder, who flew back to Prague earlier this week to receive treatment, left his decision until after training on Thursday morning because he wanted to see how the injury would react. Team manager Vladimir Smicer told Czech Television: “Tomas will certainly not play from the first minute. But if we should be in trouble towards the end of the match we might use him.”

Portugal

On the other hand, Portuguese manager Paulo Bento has no injury worries and is expected to field Nani and Cristiano Ronaldo in support of Helder Postiga up front. Ronaldo scored twice against Holland to increase his tally for Portugal to 34 goals.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Played – 2
Czech Republic Wins – 1
Draws – 0
Portugal Wins – 1

FORM GUIDE

Czech Republic – WWLLW
16-Jun-12 – Euro 2012 – Czech Republic 1-0 Poland
12-Jun-12 – Euro 2012 – Greece 1-2 Czech Republic
08-Jun-12 – Euro 2012 – Russia 4-1 Czech Republic
01-Jun-12 – Friendly – Czech Republic 1-2 Hungary
26-May-12 – Friendly – Czech Republic 2-1 Israel

Portugal – WWLLD
17-Jun-12 – Euro 2012 – Portugal 2-1 Netherlands
13-Jun-12 – Euro 2012 – Denmark 2-3 Portugal
09-Jun-12 – Euro 2012 – Germany 1-0 Portugal
02-Jun-12 – Friendly – Portugal 1-3 Turkey
26-May-12 – Friendly – Portugal 0-0 Macedonia

KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH

Petr Cech (Czech Republic)
The Chelsea goalkeeper has had a shaky last 12 months for both his club and country, yet he remains the main man between the sticks for his country. The 30-year-old who is set lead his side in the absence of the injured Tomas Rosicky would surely be his side’s main man as they look to face Cristiano Ronaldo and co tonight. The Czechs would need him to be at his best, if they have stand any chance of upsetting the Portuguese and booking themselves a place in the semi-finals.

Michal Kadlec (Czech Republic)
The Bayer Leverkusen man has been playing out of position in the center of the Czech Republic defence, and has been very impressive so far at UEFA EURO 2012. He kept his side in the tournament by making an important in the last minute of injury time against Poland and will have to be at his brilliant best on Thursday to help his team contain Portugal and most importantly Cristiano Ronaldo.

Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)
The Real Madrid star has silenced all his critics by scoring a brace against the Netherlands, when it mattered the most, and he will be keen to continue with that form and prove to everyone that it wasn’t just one of performance. His pace, trickery and shooting from range will be the key to unlock Michal Bilek’s side’s defence. The Portuguese will be dependent on their skipper to produce the good and take them through to the semi-finals.

Pepe (Portugal)
The Real Madrid defender has been as solid as a rock in the heart of the Portuguese defence. The hard tacking defender has had an excellent tournament so far, and has been one of the reason why Portugal has made it through the Group of Death and to the quarter-finals. He was solid against the Dutch on Sunday. Another performance like that against the Czechs today and Portugal are through to the final four.

PROBABLE LINEUPS

Czech Republic(4-2-3-1): Petr Cech (C); Theodor Gebre Selassie, Tomas Sivok, Michal Kadlec, David Limbersky; Tomas Hubschman, Jaroslav Plasil; Petr Jiracek, Daniel Kolar, Vaclav Pilar; Milan Baros.

The Czech have an extremely dangerous attacking force down the wings, with both full-backs Theodor Gebre Selassie and David Limbersky supporting Jiracek and Pilar at every given opportunity. Rosicky has been ruled out to start this game but may make an appearance from the bench, in his place Daniel Kolar will continue to deputise. Baros and Kolar will be the men down the middle, with Tomas Hubschman and Jaroslav Plasil protecting the midfield from the deep positions. Tomas Sivoc and Michal Kadlec have grown in stature as the tournament has progressed and their presence in the centre of defence will once again prove to be vital.

Portugal (4-3-3): Rui Patricio; Joao Perreira, Pepe, Bruno Alves, Fabio Coentrao; Miguel Veloso, Raul Meireles, Joao Moutinho; Nani, Helder Postiga, Cristiano Ronaldo (C).

The Portuguese have a settled 4-3-3 formation with Ronaldo and Nani flanking with Postiga in the middle. Miguel Veloso will be tasked with shielding the back-four while Joao Moutinho and Raul Meireles complete the midfield trio. The central pair of Pepe and Bruno Alves will have Joao Pereira and Fabio Coentrao for support on either side, with Rui Patricio between the posts.

MATCH ODDS

Czech Republic 4/1 Draw 13/5 Portugal 8/11

PREDICTION

The Portuguese have a lot of attacking talent to trouble the Czechs and in Cristiano Ronaldo they have got the second best player in the whole world. But at the same time Czech Republic are equally dangerous especially attacking from the wide areas. The game will have a cautious start with both teams making sure they don’t concede an early goal. As the two teams settle down, they will start playing some free flowing attacking football and Cristiano Ronaldo will be the key. If the Czech defence can keep the former Manchester United star quiet for the whole game then they are in win a huge chance, but I can’t see that happening with the form he is in.

Predicted Score – Czech Republic 1-2 Portugal

UEFA EURO 2012 Team Preview – Czech Republic

Population 10.5 million Area 78,866km2 Capital Prague Currency Czech koruna Official Language Czech

FOOTBALL FACTFILE

Football Asocciation Fotbalová asociace České republiky (FAČR) Official Site Nv.fotbal.cz Year of formation 1901 Euro Ranking 19 World Ranking 26 National Stadium Mostly Generali Arena, Prague Well-known club sides Slavia Prague, Sparta Prague, Slovan Liberec Leading goalscorer Jan Koller (55), Milan Baroš (41) Most capped player Karel Poborský (118), Jane Koller and Pavel Nedvěd (91) European Championship finals attended as Czech Republic 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 Best European Championship performance Runners-Up 1996 Playing Record in European Championship P67 W46 D9 L12 Odds of winning UEFA EURO 2012 50/1

JOURNEY TO POLAND/UKRAINE

Being 1-0 up against reigning world champions Spain for 69 minutes in Granada was the Czech Republic’s greatest achievement during the qualification. They eventually lost, conceding a David Villa brace, but will take heart from a performance that genuinely tested the La Furia Roja.

Otherwise, the Czechs were unremarkable. An opening defeat at home to Lithuania had Michal Bilek’s men on the back foot from the off, but a 4-1 win in Kaunas – and two solid performances against the Scots – made sure of a place in the play-offs, where slightly more accomplished opposition awaited.

Strength and experience told against the plucky Montenegrins, a 2-0 first-leg victory in Prague providing the foundation for an eventual 3-0 aggregate win. The Czech Republuc had graced every European Championship final tournament since the break-up of Czechoslovakia in 1993 and 2012 would not break the tradition.

In terms of playing staff, big names of the past – such as Pavel Nedved, karel Poborsky and parik Berger – have never been replaced adequately, the current crop of talent simply not being good. But Tomáš Rosický, Petr Čech and Milan Baroš provide an interesting spine and Michal Kadlec is an emerging force.

HOW THEY GOT THERE

07/09/2010 – Group I – Czech Republic 0-1 Lithunia
08/10/2010 – Group I – Czech Republic 1-0 Scotland
12/10/2010 – Group I – Liechtenstein 0-2 Czech Republic
25/03/2011 – Group I – Spain 2-1 Czech Republic
29/03/2011 – Group I – Czech Republic 2-0 Liechtenstein
03/06/2011 – Group I – Scotland 2-2 Czech Republic
07/09/2011 – Group I – Czech Republic 0-2 Spain
11/10/2011 – Group I – Lithunia 1-4 Czech Republic
11/11/2011 – Play-Off – Czech Republic 2-0 Montenegro
15/11/2011 – Play-Off – Montenegro 0-1 Czech Republic

HOME AND AWAY KITS

GROUP FIXTURES – GROUP A

Friday, 08/06 – Russia v Czech Republic (Wroclaw, 19:45)
Tuesday, 12/06 – Greece v Czech Republic (Wroclaw, 17:00)
Saturday, 16/06 – Czech Republic v Poland (Wroclaw, 19:45)

FINAL SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Petr Čech (Chelsea FC), Jaroslav Drobný (Hamburger SV) , Jan Laštůvka (FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk).

Defenders: Theodor Gebre Selassie (FC Slovan Liberec), Roman Hubník (Hertha BSC Berlin), Michal Kadlec (Bayer 04 Leverkusen), David Limberský (FC Viktoria Plzeň), Tomáš Sivok (Beşiktaş JK), Marek Suchý (FC Spartak Moskva).

Midfielders: Vladimír Darida (FC Viktoria Plzeň), Tomáš Hübschman (FC Shakhtar Donetsk), Petr Jiráček (VfL Wolfsburg), Daniel Kolář (FC Viktoria Plzeň), Milan Petržela (FC Viktoria Plzeň), Václav Pilař (VfL Wolfsburg), Jaroslav Plašil (FC Girondins de Bordeaux), František Rajtoral (FC Viktoria Plzeň), Tomáš Rosický (Arsenal FC).

Forwards: Milan Baroš (Galatasaray AŞ), David Lafata (FK Jablonec), Tomáš Necid (PFC CSKA Moskva), Tomáš Pekhart (1. FC Nürnberg), Jan Rezek (Anorthosis Famagusta FC).

THE CAPTAIN – TOMAS ROSICKY

‘The Little Mozart’ has been out of both rhythm and sorts since the hamstring-tendon injury that ruled him out of the entire 2008-09 season. An acknowledged world-class playmaker before this setback, Tomáš Rosický retains an accomplished passing range, though his ability to get around the pitch has deteriorated. Pivotal to his country if not club, UEFA EURO 2012 is huge for Rosický

THE KEEPER – PETR CECH

Despite suffering a depressed skull fracture after an accidental collision with Reading’s Stephen Hunt in October 2006, and being blamed for his country’s exit from UEFA EURO 2008, Petr Čech has made a remarkable comeback. Rugby-style headgear in place, he remains one of the continent’s most consistent goalkeepers. Will need to be at his best for this Czech side to see any success.

STAR MAN – MILAN BAROS

Despite scoring only once for his country in two years, you feel, for the Czechs to have any chance of being noticed in Poland/Ukraine, Milan Baroš has to rediscover some sort of scoring rhythm. He is more than capable at major tournaments, as he proved by top-scoring, with five goals, at UEFA EURO 2004. But his confidence has since dimmed. He passed penalty duties to Michal Kadlec after missing one in the opening defeat by Lithuania and he’s hardly been on sparkling form since. He remains a big-game player, though, and may debunk the form guide this summer.

THE MANAGER – MICHAL BILEK

A stalwart of the Czech side that travelled to the 1990 FIFA World Cup, Michal Bílek showed calmness under pressure bu scoring from the spot against the United States and Austria. Enjoyed a successful period at Sparta Prague, winning the domestic double in his first season, and took over as national coach from Ivan Hasek after he returned to his role as association president. Large percentages of home support are allegedly asking for his head, but he has the unanswerable support of the players and he will need it.

TOURNAMENT PREDICTION

Group Stages – This is not the Czech Republic of the old. As said before the star names have gone and have not been replaced at all. They eased past Montenegro in the play-offs but this is little more than a competent side which lack creativity. They find themselves in the easiest group of all, alongside Poland, Greece and Russia. The latter are the favourites to win the group and it will be a real dogfight as to who joins them in the 2nd Round. The passionate home support may just be enough for Poland to join Russia in the next round.