Best EURO performance: winners 1976 (as Czechoslovakia)
Coach: Michal Bílek
Leading scorer: all-time – Jan Koller (55); current – Milan Baroš (41)
Most appearances: all-time – Karel Poborský (118); current – Petr Čech (89)
Association formed: 1901
Nickname: Národní tým (National side)

Michal Bílek's side overcame teething problems to continue the Czech Republic's record of gracing every UEFA European Championship final tournament since the break-up of Czechoslovakia in 1993. After failing to reach the 2010 FIFA World Cup – and suffering a group stage exit at UEFA EURO 2008 – Bílek sought to introduce a new generation to play alongside the likes of Tomáš Rosický, Petr Čech and Milan Baroš. They made an inauspicious start to UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying, losing at home to Lithuania, but ultimately came good, beating Montenegro 3-0 on aggregate in the play-offs.

UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying
Group I: runners-up
Play-offs: Czech Republic 2-0, 1-0 Montenegro (3-0 on agg)
Leading scorer: Michal Kadlec (4)
Ever-presents: Michal Kadlec (10)

FC Viktoria Plzeň pair Václav Pilař and Petr Jiráček both scored their first senior international goals as the Czech Republic secured a 3-0 aggregate victory over Montenegro in the play-offs.

Václav Kadlec's strike in Liechtenstein made him the youngest player to score in qualifying (18 years, 145 days), though the Czechs' tally of 12 group stage goals was the lowest of all finalists. After Baroš missed from the spot in the opening-day loss to Lithuania, penalty-taking duties passed to defender Michal Kadlec, who subsequently converted three out of three.

"We were under pressure from the home defeat by Lithuania right until the end," said Bílek. "I am proud of the players and how they coped with it. I am glad to be part of it."

EURO pedigree
The Czech Republic have been EURO final tournament ever-presents since the 1993 break-up of Czechoslovakia (in contrast, they have graced just one FIFA World Cup), and became only the second side to negotiate qualifying with a 100% record en route to UEFA EURO 2000.

They lost the EURO '96 final to Germany when Oliver Bierhoff's golden goal made it 2-1, and suffered more extra-time disappointment in the last four against Greece eight years later.

In 1976, Prague-born Antonín Panenka's memorable spot kick earned Czechoslovakia the European title with a 5-3 shoot-out victory over West Germany following a 2-2 draw. The Czechs came third in their championship defence four years later.

UEFA EURO 2012 Group A fixtures
Friday 8 June: Russia v Czech Republic, 20.45CET, Wroclaw
Tuesday 12 June: Greece v Czech Republic, 18.00CET, Wroclaw
Saturday 16 June: Czech Republic v Poland, 20.45CET, Wroclaw

Team EURO records
Matches played
Overall: P67 W46 D9 L12 F136 A51
Final tournament: P17 W8 D2 L7 F24 A22
Qualifying: P50 W38 D7 L5 F112 A29

Click here for extensive list of records

Last updated 4 June 2012