Czech national team [R]

Discussion in 'Czech Republic' started by Canadian_Supporter, Aug 14, 2008.

  1. ASU55RR

    ASU55RR Member+

    Jul 31, 2004
    Brooklyn, NY/Brno,CZ
    Club:
    FC Zbrojovka Brno
    Nat'l Team:
    Czechia
    Unfortunately, it is probably more likely that they would play backups at Kosovo as they are more likely to be officially qualified by then.
     
  2. adam CZ

    adam CZ Member

    Feb 19, 2014
    Toronto, Canada
    Club:
    Chelsea FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Czechia
    Silhavy will announce our squad to face England (qualifier) and Northern Ireland (friendly) this October. Both games to be played in Prague. A few injury concerns to look out for:

    Schick - Has been absent in recent weeks, but appears to be back in training for Leipzig
    Suchy - Could miss out from an injury he sustained in our last game v Montenegro
    Kalas - Looks like he won't be ready to return in time for this international break

    Players I would add to the team:

    Hovorka - Arguably the best Czech CB in form right now, would honestly consider starting him v England
    Barak - Slowly getting more minutes for Udinese lately and should be a regular for us when fit
    Matousek - Currently the most dynamic player we have outside of Schick
    Vydra - So Dolezal is not in the team

    I'd also like Kalvach to retain his place ahead of Pavelka, but I don't see that happening from Silhavy.
     
  3. ASU55RR

    ASU55RR Member+

    Jul 31, 2004
    Brooklyn, NY/Brno,CZ
    Club:
    FC Zbrojovka Brno
    Nat'l Team:
    Czechia
    Hovorka and Kalvach's rapid ascendancy from decent league players to European competition level at Slavia and Plzen do make you wonder how much untapped potential is wasting away at poorly managed mid-table Czech teams with no vision. We need more Tripsovskys, or even Vrbas, because 90% of other Czech managers are completely interchangeable and not very tactical. I also think with Hovorka it is because he does not fit the stereotypical ideal of a Czech CB (~190+ cms and phyiscally imposing) but he has more than made up for it with how he reads the game (he also out-jumped Lukaku a few times against Inter using his positioning).
     
  4. ASU55RR

    ASU55RR Member+

    Jul 31, 2004
    Brooklyn, NY/Brno,CZ
    Club:
    FC Zbrojovka Brno
    Nat'l Team:
    Czechia
    The initial list:



    No real surprises, and Hovorka does get his deserved first call up. Kudela appears to be in for Suchy.

    A few disappointments though: Kalvach should have been called instead of Husbauer to get a run vs Northern Ireland, but its a reserve spot in the match that counts ultimately. I also don't get having Krejci (a left-sided midfielder playing as a part time left back in Seria A) when we could have Mateju (a young consistent starting left back in Seria A).

    There is one additional roster spot up front, it should be Matousek or Necid, but it probably will be Dolezal.
     
  5. adam CZ

    adam CZ Member

    Feb 19, 2014
    Toronto, Canada
    Club:
    Chelsea FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Czechia
    -----------------------Schick------------------------
    -Jankto--------------------------------Masopust-
    -----------------------Darida-------------------------
    ----------Pavelka-------------Soucek-------------
    -Boril-------Brabec--------Celustka------Coufal-
    -----------------------Vaclik-------------------------

    That's what I'm expecting from Silhavy based on his previous lineups. Honestly doesn't inspire that much confidence. I've found his management to be extremely conservative of late. I generally like continuity with team selections, but he continues to overlook a number of young(er) players with a far greater outlook on the future than some current ones. The friendly against Northern Ireland would have been a great opportunity to try such players, but there really isn't anyone in this squad that intrigues me.

    Players like Mateju, Simic, Barak, Sadilek, Matousek, and Hlozek should all be in the mix if fit and playing regularly. Add that group to our current young core of Schick, Jankto, Soucek, Kral, and you'd have a decent player pool for the 2022 World Cup campaign. I'd rather take a young and inexperienced team to the Euros next summer even if it means not progressing out of the group stage (though I'd like our chances of progression more with that younger team anyways).
     
  6. ASU55RR

    ASU55RR Member+

    Jul 31, 2004
    Brooklyn, NY/Brno,CZ
    Club:
    FC Zbrojovka Brno
    Nat'l Team:
    Czechia
    Agreed, Silhavy prepares a team perfectly fine, but he sticks to the same formula too much at a time when we need to be incorporating more young players. I think Barak would for sure have been in if he was a little farther along fitness wise, but I think all of the players you listed except maybe Hlozek (when Krmencik was injured definitely should be considered) are for sure ready for the senior team.
     
  7. ASU55RR

    ASU55RR Member+

    Jul 31, 2004
    Brooklyn, NY/Brno,CZ
    Club:
    FC Zbrojovka Brno
    Nat'l Team:
    Czechia
    Ondrasek, a 30-year-old lumbering husk of a striker that has only ever succeeded in Norway and Poland, has been called up instead of Necid or Matousek.,, I might would honestly rather take Dolezal.
     
  8. ASU55RR

    ASU55RR Member+

    Jul 31, 2004
    Brooklyn, NY/Brno,CZ
    Club:
    FC Zbrojovka Brno
    Nat'l Team:
    Czechia
    Hovorka has played really well in both Champions League matches, as well as all season, I would start him over Brabec despite the lack of experience.
     
  9. adam CZ

    adam CZ Member

    Feb 19, 2014
    Toronto, Canada
    Club:
    Chelsea FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Czechia
    I wouldn't be opposed to Hovorka starting. He actually is probably our most suitable defender for a quick team like England (though his display against Lukaku shows he doesn't shy away from physicality either). I'd say he is most comparable to Kalas. Both very good athletes whose overly energetic play can be risky at times. If Hovorka wasn't undersized for the position, he'd no doubt be playing in a top league in my mind.

    On the other hand, Brabec does seem to be improved of recently though. If he can return to the form he had during his last season with Sparta (15/16) and first season with Genk (16/17) he'd be a sufficient enough backup. It's just the past few seasons where his performances declined to the point where I wouldn't have even considered him to be national team material.
     
  10. ASU55RR

    ASU55RR Member+

    Jul 31, 2004
    Brooklyn, NY/Brno,CZ
    Club:
    FC Zbrojovka Brno
    Nat'l Team:
    Czechia
    Pavelka picked up a much more long-term injury this weekend, so we will need to call up a replacement.
     
  11. adam CZ

    adam CZ Member

    Feb 19, 2014
    Toronto, Canada
    Club:
    Chelsea FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Czechia
    Kalvach has been called up to replace Pavelka. We'll likely see a continuation of the Soucek, Kral, Darida midfield, but you could make a case for Kalvach to start ahead of Kral.
     
  12. ASU55RR

    ASU55RR Member+

    Jul 31, 2004
    Brooklyn, NY/Brno,CZ
    Club:
    FC Zbrojovka Brno
    Nat'l Team:
    Czechia
    I figured that would be the case, its also possible that Novak is now injured.
     
  13. ASU55RR

    ASU55RR Member+

    Jul 31, 2004
    Brooklyn, NY/Brno,CZ
    Club:
    FC Zbrojovka Brno
    Nat'l Team:
    Czechia
    Injuries keep piling up...

    Novak is out, he is being replaced by Zmrhal which likely means the Krejci is going to be utilized as a LB if at all.

    Hovorka is out and will miss his deserved debut, Simic called up to replace. Means we will most likely see at Celustka - Brabec pairing.
     
  14. adam CZ

    adam CZ Member

    Feb 19, 2014
    Toronto, Canada
    Club:
    Chelsea FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Czechia
    So Zmrhal, who has played like 29 minutes this past month, is selected instead of a prospect playing regularly, who happens to play the position that needs replacing? This is starting to get frustrating.

    Simic should have been in the initial squad instead of Kudela. I'd like to see him start against Northern Ireland, but even that is probably too much to ask for.

    Maybe Ondrasek can do something similar to what Skoda did against Kazakhstan way back when, otherwise not sure what to really expect from him.
     
  15. ASU55RR

    ASU55RR Member+

    Jul 31, 2004
    Brooklyn, NY/Brno,CZ
    Club:
    FC Zbrojovka Brno
    Nat'l Team:
    Czechia
    #1415 ASU55RR, Oct 8, 2019
    Last edited: Oct 8, 2019
    Apparently Mateju wasn't even on the reserve list so that is why he didn't get called to replace, Holes was the reserve fullback, but he is mediocre and plays on the right (why would you call a reserve for the side with depth?).

    Ondrasek will be an... energetic... bench presence, but he isn't a good player at all for this level. FC Dallas looked about level with a Pribram or Karvina when I saw them, and in general the only circumstance that MLS players that should be considered for a national team spot would be if they a designated player like Dockal was.
     
  16. ASU55RR

    ASU55RR Member+

    Jul 31, 2004
    Brooklyn, NY/Brno,CZ
    Club:
    FC Zbrojovka Brno
    Nat'l Team:
    Czechia
    U-21s get their first real test of the cycle today with Greece. It features 3 players (Matousek, Hlozek, and Sadilek) that either have or could just as easily be called to the senior team in the midfield/wing positions so should at least be able to create chances.
     
  17. ASU55RR

    ASU55RR Member+

    Jul 31, 2004
    Brooklyn, NY/Brno,CZ
    Club:
    FC Zbrojovka Brno
    Nat'l Team:
    Czechia
    Our U-19s also started their campaign yesterday by comfortably beating San Marino, which is expected. There are a few interesting players in that group as well, the GK Markovic has had a couple of first team chances with Slavia to understudy Kolar despite his age, and striker Filip Firbacher of Hradec Kralove has been attracting international interest over the last year or so.
     
  18. ASU55RR

    ASU55RR Member+

    Jul 31, 2004
    Brooklyn, NY/Brno,CZ
    Club:
    FC Zbrojovka Brno
    Nat'l Team:
    Czechia
    Often times on match days part of me wishes that I was back in the Czech Republic, but having been to Prague when there is just a normal stream of English tourists behaving like crap... I will take the relative calm and quiet of New York City.

    Actually in general probably a mess of a day to be in Prague, aside from the influx of "lads", there is the Karel Gott state funeral and the light festival.
     
  19. adam CZ

    adam CZ Member

    Feb 19, 2014
    Toronto, Canada
    Club:
    Chelsea FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Czechia
    Last I heard, this game wasn't even sold out with a few thousand tickets still available. I read many comments from Czech fans regarding the pricing for this game. Hopefully the stadium is at near capacity for tonight.

    Anyways, I have a feeling we may see a similar performance/result to that 2-1 home defeat to Germany in the last qualifying cycle. I think we'll definitely create chances (particularly off set pieces) and have extended spells of pressure, but will ultimately be outclassed from open play. In other words, we'll deserve to draw/win and still end up losing. Maybe we get that first draw since June 2017?
     
  20. ASU55RR

    ASU55RR Member+

    Jul 31, 2004
    Brooklyn, NY/Brno,CZ
    Club:
    FC Zbrojovka Brno
    Nat'l Team:
    Czechia
    I think I'm more pessimistic, England's style still plays right to our weaknesses so unless they are having an off night this will be tough. I expect better than London but see us losing like 3-1.
     
  21. Skevin

    Skevin Member+

    Aug 9, 2009
    Colorado
    Club:
    Aston Villa FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Czechia
    [​IMG]
    Well that defense is really bad. I am not expecting anything from this match, but I hope we don't get embarrassed at home.
     
  22. adam CZ

    adam CZ Member

    Feb 19, 2014
    Toronto, Canada
    Club:
    Chelsea FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Czechia
    Lineup as expected. Should we score a goal or two, I can't imagine Schick or Jankto not being involved. It's actually quite staggering how much they've produced in terms of goals and assists respectively versus the rest of our squad in the past year or so.

    Defensively, we will need to be nearly flawless, though I don't think it's possible to have any worse luck than we did in London. Still very concerned however.
     
  23. ASU55RR

    ASU55RR Member+

    Jul 31, 2004
    Brooklyn, NY/Brno,CZ
    Club:
    FC Zbrojovka Brno
    Nat'l Team:
    Czechia
    Same lineup as always (minus Kaderabek who is sick, but hasn't really been great for us lately anyway), although compared to last month a few players are in better form (Darida and Soucek).
     
  24. ASU55RR

    ASU55RR Member+

    Jul 31, 2004
    Brooklyn, NY/Brno,CZ
    Club:
    FC Zbrojovka Brno
    Nat'l Team:
    Czechia
    I'm going to predict:

    Krmencik for Schick in 70th minute
    Krejci for either Jankto or Kral in 75th minute
    Kopic for Masopust in the 90th minute even though most of Czech football twitter will be calling for it at halftime...
     
    adam CZ repped this.
  25. adam CZ

    adam CZ Member

    Feb 19, 2014
    Toronto, Canada
    Club:
    Chelsea FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Czechia
    Our bench straight up sucks. With injuries and omissions of certain players, it's basically a C Team (other than Kopic, Krmencik, and Pavlenka). Could easily have Barak and Vydra there, who actually have international quality, or better yet, some prospects that are already better than the players keeping them at the U21 level.
     

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