Matusovic named in Czech squad

New face 
Matusovic, who scored ten goals in just his second top-flight season to help Baník to the Czech title, is the only new face in the list. However, Brückner denied that the 23-year-old would be the favourite to step down when he announces his final 23-man selection ahead of the 2 June deadline. "He is not the 24th player but one of 24," Brückner said.

Versatility
Matusovic impressed Brückner during the Czech Cup final on Tuesday despite Baník's defeat by AC Sparta Praha, and his versatility could prove a determining factor after the coach named him among the forwards fighting for a place in Portugal.

Six domestic players
Champions Baník are represented by two other players - the Czech first division's top scorer, Marek Heinz, and defender René Bolf, who played his last game for Baník on Tuesday after agreeing a move to AJ Auxerre. Sparta supply the three other Czech-based players - goalkeeper Jaromír Blazek, defender Tomás Hübschmann and midfield player Karel Poborský.

Grygera healthy
Brückner has also been blessed with a fully-fit complement of overseas players, following AFC Ajax left-back Zdenek Grygera's recovery from a back problem. Grygera had not played since the Czech Republic's 2-2 draw in Italy in February. The once-capped AS Monaco FC midfield player, Jaroslav Plašil, will join the squad after the UEFA Champions League final

Veteran finalists
Pavel Nedved of Juventus FC, Vladimír Smicer from Liverpool FC and Poborský, the Sparta captain, are the only survivors from the team that finished runners-up to Germany at EURO '96™ as Brückner puts his faith in youth, calling up seven players from the Czech Republic's 2002 UEFA Under-21 Championship squad.

Austrian training camp
The Czech Republic travel to Seefeld in Austria on Monday for a week-long training camp after which the coach is expected to announce his final 23-man squad on Monday 31 May. The team's remaining friendlies are against Bulgaria on 2 June and then Estonia four days later.

Provisional Czech Republic squad

Goalkeepers
Jaromír Blazek (AC Sparta Praha)
Petr Cech   (Stade Rennais FC)
Antonín Kinský  (FC Saturn Moskovskaya Oblast)

Defenders
René Bolf  (FC Baník Ostrava)
Zdenek Grygera  (AFC Ajax)
Tomáš Hübschmann  (AC Sparta Praha)
Marek Jankulovski (Udinese Calcio)
Martin Jiránek (Reggina Calcio)
Pavel Mareš  (FC Zenit St. Peterburg)
David Rozehnal (Club Brugge KV)
Tomáš Ujfaluši (Hamburger SV)

Midfield players
Tomáš Galásek (AFC Ajax)
Pavel Nedved (Juventus FC)
Jaroslav Plašil (AS Monaco FC)
Karel Poborský (AC Sparta Praha)
Tomáš Rosický (BV Borussia Dortmund)
Vladimír Šmicer (Liverpool FC)
Roman Týce (TSV 1860 München)
Štepán Vachoušek (Olympique de Marseille)

Forwards
Milan Baroš (Liverpool FC)
Marek Heinz (FC Baník Ostrava)
Jan Koller (BV Borussia Dortmund)
Vratislav Lokvenc (1. FC Kaiserslautern)
Miroslav Matušovic (FC Baník Ostrava)