Jarosík back in Czech fold

There are no major surprises in Czech Republic coach Karel Brückner's 20-man squad for the upcoming UEFA EURO 2004™ qualifiers against the Netherlands and Austria.

Jarosík recall
However, the PFC CSKA Moskva midfield player Jirí Jarosík, who missed last month's 2-0 victory in France to adapt to his new surroundings, has been recalled after scoring three times in two games in Russia this season. The 25-year-old arrived in Moscow during the winter break for a Russian record €3.7m from AC Sparta Praha.

Blazek's chance
Reggina Calcio defender Martin Jiránek, one of 12 foreign-based players in the party, replaces SK Slavia Praha's Adam Petrous, while Sparta goalkeeper Jaromír Blazek returns almost three years after winning the last of his two caps to act as deputy to regular custodian Petr Cech.

In-form players
Among the Czech players in excellent form before the crucial qualifiers are Pavel Nedved, who scored two goals in Juventus FC's weekend victory against Modena FC, and Jan Koller of BV Borussia Dortmund. The striker took his UEFA Champions League goal tally for this season to six last week.

Rosický doubt
Koller's club-mate, Tomás Rosický, is included in the squad despite a thigh injury which has kept him out of action for four weeks. The playmaker is likely to miss Tuesday's Champions League game at AC Milan but hopes to be fit for the qualifiers.

Fight at the top
The Czechs are currently second in qualifying Group 3 with six points from two games. They face the Netherlands, who top the group, in Rotterdam on 29 March before third-placed Austria visit Prague four days later. "Their strength does not come from individuals," said Brückner of the Dutch. "It is not only about [Ruud van] Nistelrooij or [Patrick] Kluivert, it is about the offensive ideas of the whole team which is strongly committed to attacking."

Czech Republic squad
Čech, Blazek, Bolf, Grygera, Hübschman, Jankulovski, Ujfaluši, Jiránek, Dostálek, Galásek, Gedeon, Jarošík, Nedvěd, Poborský, Rosický, Šmicer, Baroš, Vachoušek, Koller, Lokvenc.