Send in the Czech squad to the World Cup finals in Sweden
PRAGUE (AP) – Patrik Schick is in the Czech Republic’s squad for the World Cup qualifier against Sweden next …
PRAGUE (AP) – Patrik Schick is in the Czech Republic’s squad for the World Cup qualifier against Sweden next week.
Schick, the top scorer for Bayer Leverkusen, has recovered from tearing a muscle in his left wrist on February 18 in the Bundesliga. He scored his 20th league goal of the match but has not played since.
His presence in the playoffs in Solna, Sweden, on March 24 would increase the Czechs’ chances of qualifying for the World Cup after 16 years. He has scored 17 goals in 33 international appearances.
Coach Jaroslav Šilhavý said on Tuesday that he thought Schick would play a competitive match at the end of this week.
“We will focus fully on the playoffs and do everything we can to succeed,” said Šilhavý of his 21-man squad.
Šilhavý has serious injury concerns with his entire first defense from the European Championships last year not available, including West Ham defender Vladimír Coufal.
But front midfielder Antonín Barák has recovered from an injury to be picked out.
The Sweden-Czech winner meets Poland for a place in the tournament in Qatar.
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Czech Republic squad:
Goalkeepers: Jiří Pavlenka (Werder Bremen), Jindřich Staněk (Viktoria Plzen), Tomáš Vaclík (Olzmpiacos).
Defenders: Jakub Brabec (Aris), Aleš Matějů (Venice), Tomáš Petrásek (Rakow Czestochowa), David Zima (Turin), Jaroslav Zelený (Jablonec).
Midfielders: Antonín Barák (Greece Verona), Tomáš Holeš (Slavia Prague), Jakub Jankto (Getafe), Ladislav Krejčí jr. (Sparta Prague), Lukáš Masopust (Slavia Prague), Jakub Pešek (Sparta Prague), Michal Sadílek (Twente), Tomáš Souček (West Ham), Jan Sýkora (Viktoria Plzen).
Forwards: Adam Hložek (Sparta Prague), Jan Kuchta (Lokomotiv Moscow), Ondřej Lingr (Slavien Prague), Patrik Schick (Leverkusen).
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