Euro 2024 team guide and best bets: Czech Republic
Under both their previous and current guise, the Czech Republic have a proud history in European Championships — so are they being overlooked ahead of Euro 2024?
Get clued up on Ivan Hasek’s side ahead of this summer with Odds Now’s comprehensive team guide, which features tactical analysis, players to watch out for, predicted line-ups, betting tips and more.
How Czech Republic qualified for Euro 2024
The Czechs finished second to surprise package Albania in their qualifying group, taking 15 points from their eight contests.
Four wins, three draws and just one defeat — a 3-0 loss in Tirana — was enough to see them safely through, four points clear of third-placed Poland.
Taking out the Albania loss, there was rarely a moment of real panic. Their other seven matches saw 12 goals scored and just three conceded.
Results and performances were not all that impressive but there were some extenuating circumstances. Talismanic striker Patrik Schick missed all eight contests due to a combination of injuries.
Stepping up to the plate scoring-wise were Wolfsburg winger Vaclav Cerny and West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek, who both chipped in with three strikes.
Boss Jaroslav Silhavy faced criticism for his side’s efforts throughout the campaign and rather surprisingly tendered his resignation last November, once qualification was secured.
Czech Republic’s squad for Euro 2024
Czech Republic named a 26-man squad ahead of the tournament:
Goalkeepers: Vítězslav Jaroš (Sturm Graz), Matěj Kovář (Leverkusen) Jindřich Staněk (Slavia Praha)
Defenders: Vladimír Coufal (West Ham), David Douděra (Slavia Praha), Robin Hranáč (Viktoria Plzeň), David Jurásek (Hoffenheim), Ladislav Krejčí (Sparta Praha), Martin Vitík (Sparta Praha), Tomáš Vlček (Slavia Praha), David Zima (Slavia Praha)
Midfielders: Antonín Barák (Fiorentina), Lukáš Červ (Viktoria Plzeň), Tomáš Holeš (Slavia Praha), Matěj Jurásek (Slavia Praha), Ondřej Lingr (Feyenoord), Lukáš Provod (Slavia Praha), Michal Sadílek (Twente), Tomáš Souček (West Ham), Pavel Šulc (Viktoria Plzeň)
Forwards: Václav Černý (Wolfsburg), Tomáš Chorý (Viktoria Plzeň), Mojmír Chytil (Slavia Praha), Adam Hložek (Leverkusen), Jan Kuchta (Sparta Praha), Patrik Schick (Leverkusen)
Czech Republic’s predicted starting XI for Euro 2024
Czech Republic’s star player - Patrik Schick
Bayer Leverkusen marksman Schick was the breakout star of Euro 2020 after clocking up a memorable five-goal haul.
His spectacular brace against Scotland at Hampden Park was followed up by crucial strikes against Croatia and Netherlands, before a final goal in defeat to Denmark saw him finish level with Golden Boot winner Cristiano Ronaldo — only missing out on the award due to tie-breaker rules.
Picked up by Bayer Leverkusen a few months before that tournament, it is perhaps a surprise to many that he remains with the German side given his prolific exploits.
However, that is largely down to his injury woes. Since Euro 2020, Schick has missed a whopping 23 games for his country and featured only four times — two of which were in the recent March friendlies.
A muscle tear and two separate adductor issues have seen the 28-year-old miss over a year of football, seemingly working his way back to fitness every few months before suffering another cruel blow.
Since last November, though, he has stayed fit and 13 goals in 33 outings across all competitions shows his eye for goal is as impressive as ever.
If the Czechs are to enjoy another deep run at their favourite tournament, keeping their towering centre forward fit and firing will be pivotal.
Czech Republic’s one to watch - Adam Hlozek
Schick’s fitness struggles have opened the door for his club teammate Adam Hlozek to gain more precious international experience over the last two years.
Traditionally deployed on the left-wing for his country, the versatile 21-year-old finished qualifying as both an attacking midfielder and a central striker.
And though he currently lacks the natural finishing ability of his countryman, Hlozek is still a handful in the final third with his direct, driving runs and keen eye for a pass.
The latter was on display to devastating effect in his last Bundesliga outing of the season when the youngster laid on a hat-trick of assists in a 5-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt.
A product of Sparta Prague’s academy in his homeland, Hlozek came off the bench four times for his country at Euro 2020 but nowadays is in firm contention to start.
Before joining Leverkusen in 2022, Arsenal and Newcastle were both said to be pursuing him and such a prestigious switch seems inevitable in the years to come.
First, though, he will likely be the heir to Schick’s throne — both at club and international level.
Czech Republic’s manager - Ivan Hasek
Few managers at Euro 2024 will hold the legendary status that Hasek boasts among his nation, having been twiced voted Czechoslovakian Player of the Year in the late 1980s.
The 60-year-old took up his current post for the second time in January after his predecessor Silhavy stood down, citing the need for a fresh face to take the team forward.
Hasek, who was in charge of the Czechs briefly in 2009, has spent the bulk of a nomadic managerial career in the Middle East, though was most recently in charge of Lebanon’s international side.
Of course, he has inherited a squad with significantly more quality here and a pair of 2-1 wins over Norway and Armenia in his opening matches in charge offered encouragement.
The key question will be whether Hasek can find and implement a winning formula quickly enough or whether a longer-term view will be taken.
HIs early outings saw a 3-4-1-2 and a 4-2-3-1 deployed, so upcoming friendlies will give a greater indication of how the former midfielder intends to set up his side this summer.
Given they find themselves in an open-looking Group F and boast top-level quality throughout their side, a run to the knockout stages is something Hasek and most onlookers consider a reasonable target.
Czech Republic’s Euro 2024 betting odds
Czech Republic to win Euro 2024 - 175/1
Czech Republic to reach the Euro 2024 final - 50/1
Czech Republic to win Group B - 7/1
Turkey top team goalscorer - Patrik Schick 5/2, Tomas Chory 8/1, Adam Hlozek 8/1, 10/1 BAR
*All best UK prices as of 30/05/24
Analysis and best bets for Czech Republic at Euro 2024
Expert analysis from Odds Now’s Matt Hill:
“It’s a stretch to say Czech Republic could be anything this summer but they certainly have a wider range of possible outcomes than most sides competing at Euro 2024.
“Only narrowly losing out to Denmark in the Euro 2020 quarter-finals, going deep in tournaments is nothing unusual for this nation and with talent like Patrik Schick and Tomas Soucek, they could easily match that run again.
“However, boss Ivan Hasek has been in charge less than six months and he almost certainly is still searching for his best line-up.
“Perhaps it is a good thing that they face Group F favourites Portugal first, meaning there would still be time to recover from an opening-day defeat.
“If Hasek can quickly work out a plan of attack, they should have too much for Georgia in their second outing which will set up a showdown with Turkey for second spot.
“I think experience would see them prevail in such a contest and from there, it will feel like a free hit for the Czechs.
“Six points feels like their likeliest total and at 11/2, it’s definitely worth a play. Schick also looks a safe bet at 5/2 in their top team scorer market providing he stays injury-free.”
Matt’s Best Bets:
Patrik Schick to be Czech Republic’s top scorer - 5/2 (Bet365)
Czech Republic to get exactly six points - 11/2 (Bet365)