Pudil returns to Czech fold

Midfielder Daniel Pudil is in the Czech Republic's 30-man provisional squad for the UEFA European Under-21 Championship following a spell in the senior ranks.

Notable inclusions
The 21-year-old FC Slovan Liberec starlet made his full debut in a friendly against Belgium in February, but has been named in Ladislav Škorpil's selection along with two foreign-based players, FC Moskva defender Roman Hubník and Bayer 04 Leverkusen forward Michal Papadopulos. Other notable inclusions are 19-year-old Liberec striker Jan Blažek, who has scored six league goals this season, and SK Slavia Praha midfielders Michal Švec and Petr Janda, who won bronze medals at the 2006 UEFA European Under-19 Championship. The squad will gather on 28 May, with the 23-man party for the finals to be announced by 30 May.

Czech Republic squad
Goalkeepers: Antonín Buček (FC Baník Ostrava), Josef Kubásek (FC Baník Sokolov), Milan Švenger (FC Zenit Čáslav), Zdeněk Zlámal (FC Zlín).

Defenders: Roman Hubník (FC Moskva), Michal Kadlec (AC Sparta Praha), Josef Kaufman (FK Teplice), Jiří Kladrubský (SK Dynamo České Budějovice), Martin Klein (FK Teplice), Milan Kopic (FK Mladá Boleslav), Štěpán Kučera (AC Sparta Praha), Martin Latka (SK Slavia Praha).

Midfielders: Tomáš Jirsák (FK Teplice), Ladislav Volešák (SK Dynamo České Budějovice), František Rajtoral (FC Baník Ostrava), Mário Holek (1. FC Brno), Luboš Hušek (AC Sparta Praha), Petr Janda (SK Slavia Praha), Daniel Pudil (FC Slovan Liberec), Michal Švec (SK Slavia Praha), Martin Kuncl (1. FC Brno), Daniel Kolář (AC Sparta Praha).

Forwards: Jan Blažek (FC Slovan Liberec), Martin Fillo (FC Viktoria Plzeň), Jan Holenda (FC Slovan Liberec), Michal Papadopulos (Bayer 04 Leverkusen), Jan Kysela (FK Mladá Boleslav), Tomáš Krbeček (FC Viktoria Plzeň), Filip Rýdel (SK Sigma Olomouc), Ivo Táborský (SK Dynamo České Budějovice).