Czechs consider Čech cover

Deputy Blažek
Čech has missed only two of 34 competitive games since earning his first cap in 2002. His absence should have meant a rare chance for the 33-year-old Jaromír Blažek, who replaced him on both those previous occasions and has gained considerable experience in the UEFA Champions League for AC Sparta Praha. However, he also withdrew on Monday with a thigh injury which originally kept him out of Sparta's 3-1 defeat by SV Zulte Waregem in the UEFA Cup on 2 November. With both of the main contenders out, therefore, Brückner has had to look elsewhere - though he has unearthed a familiar name.

Čech for Čech?
The uncapped Marek Čech (not to be confused with FC Porto's Slovakian left-back of the same name) has emerged as a contender for the goalkeeper's jersey after racking up nine clean sheets for FC Slovan Liberec this season. Antonín Kinský has also been called up from FC Saturn Moskovskaya Oblast and, after sitting on the bench behind both Petr Čech and Blažek in the pecking order at this summer's FIFA World Cup, may feel he is the next in line. Brückner has plans to give both men a chance against Denmark. "We will test both goalkeepers on Wednesday, each of them will play one half," he said.

Overseas options
Other Czech goalkeepers playing for overseas sides include Daniel Zítka at RSC Anderlecht and former Under-21 custodians Jan Laštůvka and Radek Černý, who are both based in England with Fulham FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC respectively though neither is yet a first choice for their clubs. Brückner clearly has a difficult decision to make, though no doubt he hopes his main man Petr Čech will make a full recovery in due course. Few, if any, teams would not miss his undeniable qualities.