Czech Republic 2020 UEFA Euro Betting
Since Czechoslovakia fractured into the Czech Republic and Slovakia, the Czech Republic has been a mainstay in the European Championships. The Czechs have qualified for all seven of the tournaments that have been played since their country’s foundation, and they have done quite well on this stage. They have not had the same success at the World Cup with just one appearance (2006), but they feel right at home in the Euros.
Czech Republic Squad Profile
UEFA Euro Odds: +15000
Coach: Jaroslav Šilhavý
FIFA Ranking: 40
Best Finish: Runner-up (1996)
Group: D ( Croatia, England and Scotland )
How They Got Here
The Czech Republic used a great home field advantage to qualify for EURO 2020. The national team won all four of its home games, and the Czechs dealt England its lone loss during qualifying. However, the Czechs really struggled away from home with three losses in their four games. They beat Montenegro 3-0, but the Czechs lost 1-0 to Bulgaria, 2-1 to Kosovo, and they were walloped 5-0 by England on the road.
Team Preview
There are two familiar foes for the Czech Republic in this group. The Czechs played England twice in qualifying for EURO 2020, and they also squared off against Scotland twice in Nations League play late last year. They lost both matches to Scotland and were smashed in England, so it doesn’t bode well for this team that the Czechs will have to play both teams in their national stadiums.
Patrik Schick is the main player to watch up top for the Czechs. He has 10 goals in 24 matches for the national team, and he has been a standout contributor in the Bundesliga. In two seasons with Red Bull Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen, Schick has 19 goals in 48 matches. His temper is something to watch though after he received a straight red card against Wales in late March, leading to the Czech Republic suffering a 1-0 loss to Wales in a World Cup qualifier.
Tomas Soucek, Michael Krmencik, and Vladimir Darida are the other main contributors in the midfield and on the attack. Soucek has seven goals for the national team and has made a big impact at West Ham United during their dream run this season. Krmencik has nine goals in 28 caps for the national team, and captain Vladimir Darida has the most experience on the roster with 70 appearances.
The back line is something of a worry. Pavel Kaderabek is the only really proven member, and the rest of the defenders are somewhat questionable. Ondrej Celustka, Jan Boril, and Vladimir Coufal will likely see some run.
Petr Cech’s retirement after the 2016 Euros left a gaping hole in net for the Czech Republic. Cech retired as the most capped international in the country’s history, and he is the top goalkeeper in national team history too. Sevilla’s Tomas Vaclik is the new No. 1 goalkeeper, and he has played well since taking the role.
Czech Republic Schedule
GROUP STAGE
Monday June 14
Scotland vs. Czech Republic (Glasgow; 9 a.m. ET, 3 p.m.)
Friday June 18
Croatia vs. Czech Republic (Glasgow; noon ET, 6 p.m.)
Tuesday June 22
Czech Republic vs. England (London; 3 p.m. ET, 9 p.m.)
Czech Republic’s History at the European Championships
The Czech Republic had their best Euros finish in their debut trip. They were heavy underdogs in a group that included Germany and Italy, but they beat the Italians and drew with Russia on the final day to finish in second behind Germany in the Group Stage. The Czechs relied on their back line in the knockout rounds, picking up a 1-0 win over Portugal in the quarterfinals before shocking France in penalties after a scoreless 120 minutes. That set up a rematch with Germany in the finals, and the Czech Republic went into extra time before losing in the 95th minute due to a golden goal from Oliver Bierhoff.
They were knocked out in the Group Stage of the 2000 Euros, but the Czechs rebounded to make the semifinals of the 2004 Euros. The Czech Republic unleashed its offense this time and won all three games, stunning both the Netherlands and Germany. The country hammered Denmark 3-0 in the quarterfinals before suffering a tough 1-0 loss to Greece in the semifinals. That was the year the Greeks didn’t allow a goal in their three knockout round games on their way to an improbable title.
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