The squad plotting to end Irish dreams

After a tumultuous campaign that saw issues with supporters, Tomas Soucek stripped of the captaincy, win-bonuses withheld and a change of manager, Czechia find themselves two games away from the World Cup.

Former goalkeeper Miroslav Koubek is now tasked with leading the country's fortunes, with the 75-year-old naming a 25-man squad for the play-off semi-final.

Here is the squad looking to end Irish dreams of a fourth World Cup appearance.

The No 1 who played every game in the qualifying campaign.

Joined Manchester United as a 17-year-old but a place on the bench for a Europa League tie under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was the closest he came to a senior appearance.

Loan moves at Swindon and Burton followed before joining Bayer Leverkusen for a fee in the region of €9m.

In January he moved to PSV on a permanent basis after a successful loan.

The Braga shotstopper is yet to make his international bow.

Martin Jedlicka (Banik Ostrava)
The former Bohemians player (the Czech club based in Prague rather than the Phibsborough outfit) made his Czechia debut last year against San Marino.

Premier League fans will remember the defender from his West Ham days.

Now plies his trade in the Bundesliga and remains a first-team fixture at international level.

A key player in the Czech defence since making his debut in 2020.

Acutely aware of the threat posed by Troy Parrott given his quotes to the media this week.

"One of the keys to winning the game is to eliminate Parrott," the 32-year-old said.

"He's a complex forward who has speed and excellent runs.

He’s a football killer in the box."
A regular for a Hoffenhim side that occupy fifth spot in the Bundesliga, three points adrift of Stuttgart in third.

Scored against Gibraltar in qualifying.

Stepan Chaloupek (Slavia Prague)
The 23-year-old struggled to make first-team progress under previous manager Ivan Hasek, with just one substitute appearance during the qualification campaign.

The left-back joined Benfica in 2023 for a deal worth up to €14m (a buy-out clause was set at a reported €80m), but never properly settled.

Loan deals with Hoffenheim and Besiktas followed before he returned to Slavia Prague for €3m in January.

On loan at Wolves from Girona, the centre-half has made 21 Premier League apperances this term and took over the captaincy from Soucek during the qualifying campaign.

The pacy defender has plenty of competition in the backline, featuring twice during qualifying.

Jaroslav Zeleny (Sparta Prague)
A mainstay at the heart of the Czech defence, knows full well the threat posed by Troy Parrott as Zeleny was up against the Dubliner as he grabbed three goals across both legs of Sparta Prague's Conference League Round of 16 defeat to AZ Alkmaar.

Koubek has called in the uncapped MSL-based midfielder for the play-offs.

Has been an automatic choice in the Czech midfield.

Was the team's most fouled player during qualifying.

Vladimir Darida (Hradec Kralove)
The much-travelled 35-year-old has come out of retirement for the play-offs.

Quit international football in 2021 after winning 76 caps, but has been persuaded by Koubek to return to the fold.

The second Lyon midfielder in the squad, the attack-minded player offers a creative spark for the hosts.

A Mlada Boleslav club legend, he joined Viktoria Plzen last year and his international bow followed in November.

Just the solitary cap to date.

A key cog under Hasek, the left-sided player will look to cause the Irish defence plenty of problems.

Scored his country's opening goal at Euro 2024 when he netted against Portugal.

Played against Barcelona, Tottenham and Atletico Madrid in Slavia Prague's Champions League campaign.

Was named in Czechia's Euro 24 squad, but was a late withdrawal after injuring himself on a tricycle on the eve of the tournament.

"I didn't answer anyone's messages, I turned off my phone completely, I was just with my thoughts," he would later say.

"I closed in on myself and probably did the best I could."
The team talisman enjoyed a turbulent qualifying campaign, stripped of his captaincy for the crime of "ignoring" supporters following the 6-0 win over Gibraltar.

The team bonus was also withheld as collective punishment.

A dominant figure in the middle of the park whose late surging runs into the penalty area will have to be closely tracked.

Denis Visinsky (Viktoria Plzen)
The uncapped 23-year-old winger is unlikely to see game time against Ireland.

Patrik Schick (Bayer Leverkusen)
The team's main attacking threat, with the Euro 2020 silver boot winner averaging a goal every second game for his country.

Fitness concerns surround him at present, with Irish fans hoping the Leverkusen frontman is not back to full match sharpness.

The 31-year-old features in most games, either as a starter or off the bench.

Just one goal in the qualifying campaign.

Marked his Czechia debut with a hat-trick in 2023, but perhaps something of a flat-track bully given five of his six international goals have come against Faroe Islands and Malta.

Featured once in the qualifying campaign off the bench.

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