Czech Republic national under-21 football team

The Czech U-21 national football team is a national team of Czech football player. It belongs to the Bohemian- Moravian Football Association and represents him on the U-21 level, in friendly matches against the national teams of other national associations, but also at the European Championships of the continental federation UEFA and the Football World Cup FIFA. Be eligible, players who have not yet completed their 21 years and have Czech citizenship. In tournaments, the age at first qualifier is relevant.

History

Although Czechoslovakia was dissolved on January 1, 1993 played their U -21 until the end of the U -21 Football Championship in 1994 under the Czechoslovakian flag. Only then were the two new countries Czech Republic and Slovakia 's U -21 national teams.

Their first official Game of the newly formed selection then on 5 September 1994, at the qualifier for the U -21 Football Championship in 1996 against Malta, which could win the Czechs 1-0. The team made ​​it in their first participation equal to the final round, but retired in the quarterfinals to eventual winners Italy from.

For the final round in 1998, the team failed to qualify. Two years later surprised the team, as they in Slovakia in 2000, the finals. However, as early as 1996 was again Italy the stumbling block over which the little lion should fall. On June 4, 2000 namely Italy could win 2:1 and therefore botched the Czechs the first triumph at a European Championship.

In 2002, the Red-Blue -Whites were more fortunate and were able to maintain for the first time the European Championship Cup in his hands. In the group stage to qualify with a win, one draw and one defeat still happy for the semifinals, where the team defeated the opponent from Italy 3-2. After the two defeats in 1996 and 2000 succeeded finally in 2002 the revenge. After the Czechs in the first minute through David Rozehnal went ahead and Michal Pospisil goal for these 83 minutes, it looked like a victory for the Eastern Europeans. But within four minutes between the 86th and 90th, the Italians were able to compensate by Andrea Pirlo and Massimo Maccarone yet. Salvation there was after the second goal of Pospisil, who thus led the Czechs to winning ways. On May 28, 2002 in Basel made ​​the choice then to France. Both teams already played in the group stage against each other, where the French 2-0 to keep the upper hand. This time shall happiness but are on the side of the Czechs. After 90 minutes and extension no winner was clear, the shoot had to decide. Czech Republic held his nerve and was able to prevail 3-1 on point. Rudolf Skacel scored the third goal before Jean -Alain Boumsong missed on the part of the French.

After this, the biggest success more stayed away. For 2004 and 2006, the team failed to qualify and it always failed at the play-off games. 2007 could already pack your bags after the first round after the team took just one point from three games.

Participation in U-21 European Championships

Note: The first European Championship was held in 1978. At this time, the Czech Republic was not yet eigenständidiges country. Only with the dissolution of Czechoslovakia on January 1, 1993, the U -21 Czech Republic developed.

Former player and well-known

(Selection)

  • Milan Baroš
  • Petr Čech
  • Jaroslav Drobný
  • Martin Fillo
  • Zdeněk Grygera
  • Mario Holek
  • Michal Kadlec
  • David Kobylík
  • Michal Papadopulos
  • Tomáš Pekhart
  • January Polák
  • Rudolf Skácel
  • January Šimůnek
  • Tomáš Rosický

Former coach

( incomplete)

  • Miroslav Beranek ( coach at the European Championships 2002)
  • Ladislav Škorpil ( coach at the 2007 European Championships )
  • Jiří Kotrba (2008)
  • Jakub Dovalil (since October 2008)
Opava Teplice Burgos Michal Pospíšil Rudolf Skácel
785445
de