Čech answers Czech call

Chelsea FC goalkeeper Petr Čech has been included in the Czech Republic's 19-man squad for the forthcoming UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifiers against Wales and Slovakia despite his shoulder injury.

Injury woe
The 24-year-old missed the start of the Premiership season with the problem but returned to training on Monday and Czech Republic coach Karel Brückner did not hesitate to call him up. The side will be without other key players through injury, however, with Milan Baroš, Vladimír Šmicer and Zdeněk Grygera all sidelined while Jan Polák is suspended for the game against Wales in Teplice on 2 September. Polák had been expected to take Pavel Nedvěd's midfield role following the latter's international retirement so AC Sparta Praha midfielder Tomáš Sivok could be given a chance. After starting their Group D campaign against the Welsh, the Czechs face Slovakia in Bratislava four days later.

Czech Republic squad
Goalkeepers: Jaromír Blažek (AC Sparta Praha), Petr Čech (Chelsea FC), Antonín Kinský (FC Saturn Moskovskaya Oblast).

Defenders: Marek Jankulovski (AC Milan), Radoslav Kováč (FC Spartak Moskva), Martin Jiránek (FC Spartak Moskva), David Rozehnal (Paris Saint-Germain FC), Tomáš Ujfaluši (ACF Fiorentina), Tomáš Zápotočný (FC Slovan Liberec).

Midfielders: David Jarolím (Hamburger SV), Tomáš Galásek (1. FC Nürnberg), Jaroslav Plašil (AS Monaco FC), Jan Polák (1. FC Nürnberg), Tomáš Rosický (Arsenal FC), Tomáš Sivok (AC Sparta Praha).

Forwards: Jan Koller (AS Monaco FC), Libor Sionko (Rangers FC), Jiří Štajner (Hannover 96), Marek Kulič (FK Mladá Boleslav).