Levi Rothermund
The Czech Republic named a preliminary World Cup squad on Tuesday built around long-serving national team players, with West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek headlining a group preparing for the country’s first tournament appearance since 2006.
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The wider preliminary list of 54 players includes Slavia Prague striker Tomas Chory and midfielder David Doudera, both of whom received red cards in the weekend derby that was abandoned after fans stormed the pitch. Both were subsequently removed from the club.
The national team, led by 74-year-old Miroslav Koubek, will face Kosovo on May 31st in Prague before departing for a training camp in New Jersey ahead of the tournament across Canada, the United States, and Mexico.
Koubek took charge following a shock qualification defeat to the Faroe Islands and steered the Czechs through the playoffs to secure their place at the World Cup for the first time in two decades.
Players who featured in the decisive playoff wins against Ireland and Denmark form the spine of the squad. That group includes Wolverhampton defender Ladislav Krejci, Olympique Lyonnais midfielder Pavel Sulc, and 35-year-old Vladimir Darida, who currently plays for Hradec Kralove in the Czech top tier.
Hoffenheim striker Adam Hlozek returns after dealing with injury problems, while 17-year-old Sparta Prague midfielder Hugo Sochurek has been handed an opportunity to earn his first senior cap.
The Czechs open their Group A campaign against South Korea on June 12th, with matches to follow against co-hosts Mexico and South Africa. Follow TipsGG for full coverage, match previews, and expert tips throughout the tournament.