Czechs recall Prague heroes

THE Czech Republic have called up two of the heroes of Slavia Prague’s Champions’ League qualifying team for the European Championship games against the Republic of Ireland and San Marino.

Coach Karel Bruckner has included veteran goalkeeper Martin Vaniak and striker Stanislav Vlcek in his squad after long absences from the national team.

The 36-year-old Vaniak actually won the last of his caps in a friendly against Ireland in 2004, while 31-year-old Vlcek, who scored twice against Ajax in Slavia Prague’s 2-1 win on Wednesday, has four caps for his country.

Arsenal’s Tomas Rosicky returns after missing the recent 1-1 friendly draw with Austria, but new Juventus right-back Zdenek Grygera, who suffered a thigh strain in that game, is ruled out.

Otherwise, Brucker’s squad features a number of familiar names including Petr Cech, Jan Koller and Milan Baros.

The full Czech Republic squad for the games away to San Marino on September 8 and at home to Ireland on September 12 is:

Goalkeepers: Petr Cech (Chelsea), Jaromir Blazek (FC Nuremberg), Martin Vaniak (Slavia Prague)

Defenders: Marek Jankulovski (AC Milan), Radoslav Kovac (Spartak Moscow), Zdenek Pospech (Sparta Prague), David Rozehnal (Newcastle), Tomas Ujfalusi (Fiorentina), Tomas Zapotocny (Udinese)

Midfielders: Tomas Galasek (FC Nuremberg), David Jarolim (Hamburger SV), Jaroslav Plasil (Osasuna), Jan Polak (Anderlecht), Tomas Rosicky (Arsenal), Tomas Sivok (Udinese)

Forwards: Milan Baros (Lyon), Martin Fenin (Teplice), Jan Koller (Monaco), Marek Kulic (Sparta Prague), Stanislav Vlcek (Slavia Prague).