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Czech Republic

Group E | World ranking: 2

Qualification: Beat Norway in European Group play-off
Coach: Karel Bruckner
Key Players: Jan Koller (forward), Pavel Nedved (midfielder), Petr Cech (goalkeeper), Tomas Rosicky (midfielder)
Past Record: Runners-up 1934; quarterfinals 1938, 1990

Group E Matches:
June 12: U.S. (Gelsenkirchen)
June 17: Ghana (Cologne)
June 22: Italy (Hamburg)

Despite currently lying second in the FIFA world rankings, the Czechs struggled to qualify. Damaging home and away defeats to the Netherlands meant they finished second in Group 1 and they had to rely on two tight 1-0 play-off wins over Norway to secure their finals place for the first time since 1990. In Chelsea keeper Cech, the Czechs possess arguably the best custodian in the world but it is in midfield where they excel. The stability of captain Tomas Galasek and the flair of Tomas Rosicky perfectly complement the genius of Juventus star Pavel Nedved. His return from international retirement gave the whole country a boost and their weight of expectation will once again lie squarely on his shoulders.

Squad

Goalkeepers:
1. Petr Cech (Chelsea)
16. Jaromir Blazek (Sparta Prague)
23. Antonin Kinsky (Saturn Ramenskoye)

Defenders:
2. Zdenek Grygera (Ajax Amsterdam)
3. Pavel Mares (Zenit St Petersburg)
5. Radoslav Kovac (Spartak Moscow)
6. Marek Jankulovski (AC Milan)
13. Martin Jiranek (Spartak Moscow)
21. Tomas Ujfalusi (Fiorentina)
22. David Rozehnal (Paris St Germain)

Midfielders:
4. Tomas Galasek (Ajax Amsterdam)
7. Vladimir Smicer (Girondins Bordeaux)
8. Karel Poborsky (Ceske Budejovice)
10. Tomas Rosicky (Arsenal)
11. Pavel Nedved (Juventus)
14. David Jarolim (Hamburg SV)
19. Jan Polak (Nuremberg)
20. Jaroslav Plasil (Monaco)

Forwards:
9. Jan Koller (Borussia Dortmund)
12. Vratislav Lokvenc (Red Bull Salzburg)
15. Milan Baros (Aston Villa)
17. Jiri Stajner (Hanover 96)
18. Marek Heinz (Galatasaray)

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