Euro 2012 team preview: Czech Republic

The Czech Republic (formerly Czechoslovakia)
Population: 10.5 M.
Capital: Prague.
FA foundation: 1901.
Affiliation to FIFA: 1907.
Affiliation to UEFA: 1954.
Head Coach: Michal Bilek.

The first ever game in the European championship history saw Czechoslovakia visiting Dalymount Park in Dublin for the first leg of the preliminary round.

The hosts won by two goals to nil but the Czechs bounced back in the second leg with a comfortable 4-0 victory.

Czechoslovakia continued to impress beating Denmark 7-3 on aggregate before a 5-0 aggregate win over Romania to reach the semifinals.

In the final tournament in 1960, Czechoslovakia lost 0-3 to the USSR but won the third place playoff over hosts France 2-0.

Despite reaching the 1962 World Cup final, Czechoslovakia was eliminated from the first round of Euro 1964 with a surprise 2-3 aggregate loss to East Germany.


After going for group format, the Czechs once again missed out after finishing a point behind Spain in the 1968 qualifiers, before losing only on goal difference to Romania in the 1972 edition.

A 0-3 defeat at Wembley left the Czech fans pessimistic at the start of Euro 1976 qualifiers, but Panenka and co won the remaining games to top the group with a single point over the three lions.

Czechoslovakia then reached their first semifinal in 16 years after a 4-2 aggregate win over USSR.

Under heavy rains in Zagreb, the Czechs defeated the Netherlands 3-1 to face title holders Germany in the final in Belgrade.

A TROPHY WIN ON PENALTIES

Czechoslovakia was leading 2-1 until the 89th minute when Dieter Muller equalized for Germany as both sides headed to penalties.

Panenka scored the decisive penalty in a bizarre fashion as Czechoslovakia won their first major title, 75 years after their FA foundation.

Czechoslovakia looked confident to defend their title in the road to 1980 finals topping a group that included France, Sweden and Luxembourg.

However, the Czechs lost their first game 0-1 to Germany before beating Greece 3-1 and drawing 1-1 with the Netherlands.

Czechoslovakia won the third place play off for the second time in their history after beating Italy on penalties following a 1-1 draw.

Despite collecting more points than Italy in the 1984 qualifiers, Czechoslovakia finished third in the tough group behind Romania and Sweden.

Czechoslovakia missed out again in 1988 finishing runners-up to group winners Denmark before trailing behind France in the 1992 qualifiers.

PROMISE AFTER SEPARATION FROM SLOVAKIA

In their first ever qualifiers after the separation of Slovakia, the Czech Republic topped their group at the expense of the Netherlands, Norway, Belarus, Malta and Luxembourg to clinch a spot in the 1996 finals in England.

The Czechs lost their first game to Germany before young midfielder Pavel Nedved guide his teammates to a remarkable 2-1 win over Italy.

The Czech side drew with Russia to reach quarterfinals where Karel Poborsky scored a beautiful goal to lead his country to a victory over Portugal.

The adventure continued with a penalty shoot out win over France after a scoreless draw and the Czech Republic reached had to play Germany in the final 20 years after the famous Panenka penalty.

Patrik Berger gave the Czechs the lead from the spot, but substitute Oliver Bierhoff bagged a brace including a golden goal to claim the title for Germany.

CONSOLATION WIN IN EURO 2000

The Czech Republic had an excellent qualifying campaign for Euro 2000 collecting 30 points and finishing on top of their group with 12 points over second placed Scotland.

Nedved and co were drawn with hosts the Netherlands and world champions France alongside Denmark in the finals.

The Czechs lost 0-1 to the hosts and 1-2 to France before a consolation 2-0 victory over Denmark.

Coach Karel Bruckner led the team to an impressive qualification for Euro 2004 with three points over group rivals the Netherlands.

The Czechs won all their three first round games at the finals beating Germany, the Netherlands and Latvia as they were touted favorites to lift the trophy in Portugal.

Towering striker Jan Koller scored a goal and tournament top goal-scorer Milan Baros bagged a brace to thrash Denmark 3-0.

However, a header from Greek defender Dellas in extra time ended the Czech hopes in semifinals.

The Czechs had a promising qualifying campaign for Euro 2008 tooping their group with two points over Germany.

The Czech Republic won the opener over Switzerland by a single goal but lost 1-3 to Portugal and dropped a two goal lead over Turkey to lose the game by three and crash out of the tournament.