Czech Republic Greatest All-Time Team
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| The Czech Republic 1996 |
Czechoslovakia
Slovakia
Czechoslovakia had two runner-up finishes in World Cups, in 1934 and 1962, and won the European Championship in the 1976 tournament before breaking into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993. Czech Republic immediatelyfound successes by finishing second at Euro 1996.
This is the all-time team for the Czech Republic. If there were an All-Time World Cup, this would be the 23 players I would bring to the tournament.
Team
GK: Frantisek Planicka
Frantisek Planicka was considered one of the greatest of his generation. He went to play in two World Cup Finals in 1934 and 1938, where he finished second in 1934. He was their captain. He played all his career for Slavia Prague, during which time the club won the Czech league eight times and the Mitropa Cup once.
GK: Petr Cech
Cech is best remembered for being Chelsea's undisputred starting keeper from 2004 to 2014. He won almost everything in club football. He is considered among the greatest of his era. He also played for Sparta Prague, Rennes and Arsenal. For Czech Republic, he is the most capped player in the history of the Czech team, with 124 caps, and represented the country at the 2006 World Cup, as well as the 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016 European Championships.
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| Petr Cech |
Ivo Viktor placed third in the 1976 Ballon d'Or, and was a five-time winner of the Czechoslovak Footballer of the Year award, and a two-time winner of the European Goalkeeper of the Year award. He was the hero of Euro 1976, where Czechoslovakia won the championship. He played for Czechoslovakia for 63 times between 1966 and 1977. The majority of his senior club career was with Dukla Prague.
RB: Jan Lála
Jan Lála played 37 times for Czechoslovakia. He went to the 1962 FIFA World Cup, where Czechoslovakia came second. His club career is associated with SK Slavia Praha. In 1969, he moved to play in Switzerland with FC Lausanne-Sport. He also played for FK Ústí and Labem.
RB/RW/CB/LB: Zdeněk Grygera
Known for his all round abilities, he played with Petra Drnovice and Sparta Prague at home before heading to play in Netherlands with Ajax in 2003. In 2007, he moved to Juventus. After highly successful years in Turin, he moved to play for Fulham. Grygera played for the Czech Republic at UEFA Euro 2004, the 2006 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2008.
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| Zdeněk Grygera |
Jaroslav Burgr was a participant in two World Cup Finals, in 1934 and 1938. He played 57 matches for the national team between 1929 and 1938, while captaining the national team on several occasions. He also played for Bohemia under the German occupation. He played domestic club football mostly for AC Sparta Prague, where he collected 7 league titles. He played for SK Most.
CB: Antonín Hojer
Antonín Hojer played for Sparta Prague at home. He was a member of the so-called "Iron Sparta", the famous Sparta Prague team from the first half of the 20th century. For Czechosloslovaka, he earned 35 caps and scored 3 goals. Hojer represented Czechoslovakia at the 1920 Olympics and 1924 Olympics. His younger brother František was also a Czechoslovak footballer.
CB: Miroslav Kadlec
During his career, Kadlec played for four Czech clubs, and also had an eight-year stint with Bundesliga's 1. FC Kaiserslautern, where he was crowned league champion in 1991 and 1998. Capped 64 times Czechoslovakia and later the Czech Republic. He took part in the 1990 FIFA World Cup and the 1996 European Championship silver, where his team finished second.
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| Miroslav Kadlec |
CB: Tomas Ujfalusi
He played 78 times for the Czech Republic, representing the nation at the 2006 World Cup and two European Championships. He was a key player for the 2000s Golden Generation. He played for Hamburg, Atlético Madrid, Galatasaray, Sigma Olomouc and Sparta Prague. He won the Europa League in 2010 with Atletico Madrid.
He played 78 times for the Czech Republic, representing the nation at the 2006 World Cup and two European Championships. He was a key player for the 2000s Golden Generation. He played for Hamburg, Atlético Madrid, Galatasaray, Sigma Olomouc and Sparta Prague. He won the Europa League in 2010 with Atletico Madrid.
LB: Marek Jankulovski
Marek Jankulovski's most notable achievements include winning the UEFA Champions League with A.C. Milan and being voted the 2007 Czech Footballer of the Year. He earned 77 caps for the Czech Republic, and represented them at three European Championships, the 2000 Olympics and the 2006 World Cup.
LB: Ladislav Novak
Ladislav Novak played 75 matches for Czechoslovakia, 71 of them as its team captain. He went to three World Cup Finals: 1954, 1958 and 1962, where Czechoslavia finished second in 1962. In his country, Novák played mainly for Dukla Prague and won 8 championship titles with them.
CM: Josef Masopust
He is regarded as the greatest player coming from Czechoslovakia. He led the Czechoslovakia team that reached the 1962 FIFA World Cup final, losing to Brazil. In Europe, he took Czechoslovakia to third place at the 1960 UEFA European Football Championship. He was capped 63 times. He was named European Footballer of the Year in 1962. For domestic football, Masopust won eight league championships and three national cups with Dukla.
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| Josef Masopust |
He played for Sparta Prague at hime. He played from 1913 to 1933, scoring 149 goals in his club career. He played 44 matches for the national team and scored one goal. Pešek was a participant in the 1920 Olympic Games and 1924 Olympic Games. At the 1920 Olympic Games he also participated in ice hockey, winning the bronze medal with the Czechoslovak team.
CM: Svatopluk Pluskal
Svatopluk Pluskal was capped 58 times. He played in three World Cup Finals from 1954, 1958 and 1962. In 1962, he formed a partnership in the midfield with Josef Masopust and led his country to second place. The best years of his club career were spent at Dukla Prague, the army club, where he played for almost 16 years.
RW: Karel Poborský
He is the all-time leader in appearances for the Czech national team, with 118 between 1994 and 2006. He also played in three European Championships, being named in the Team of the Tournament at Euro 96 after helping the Czechs to the final. His most famous career in club football were spent with Manchester United and Benfica.
Svatopluk Pluskal was capped 58 times. He played in three World Cup Finals from 1954, 1958 and 1962. In 1962, he formed a partnership in the midfield with Josef Masopust and led his country to second place. The best years of his club career were spent at Dukla Prague, the army club, where he played for almost 16 years.
RW: Karel Poborský
He is the all-time leader in appearances for the Czech national team, with 118 between 1994 and 2006. He also played in three European Championships, being named in the Team of the Tournament at Euro 96 after helping the Czechs to the final. His most famous career in club football were spent with Manchester United and Benfica.
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| Karel Poborský |
LW/AM: Pavel Nedved
He was probably the best player from the region after the breakup of Czechoslovakia. He was nicknamed "Czech Fury" by Italian fan. He was a key player as the Czech Republic finished second at Euro 1996, and reached the semi-final at Euro 2004. For club football, he is best remembered for playing for Lazio and Juvnetus. At Lazio, he won the Scudetti in 1999-2000, only the second league title in Lazio's history. With Juventus, he led the team to the Final of the 2002-2003 Champions' League final, but he sat out ofthe game due to suspension. He won the European Footballer of the that year.
He was probably the best player from the region after the breakup of Czechoslovakia. He was nicknamed "Czech Fury" by Italian fan. He was a key player as the Czech Republic finished second at Euro 1996, and reached the semi-final at Euro 2004. For club football, he is best remembered for playing for Lazio and Juvnetus. At Lazio, he won the Scudetti in 1999-2000, only the second league title in Lazio's history. With Juventus, he led the team to the Final of the 2002-2003 Champions' League final, but he sat out ofthe game due to suspension. He won the European Footballer of the that year.
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| Pavel Nedved |
Tomas Rosicky was the star playmaker for the Czech Republic throughout the 2000s. He has taken part in four UEFA European Championships as well as the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He was Czech Footballer of the Year in 2001, 2002 and 2006. He started his career with Sparta Prague, and he had notable stints with Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal.
AM: Antonin Panenka
Antonin Panenka played most of his career for Bohemians Prague. Panenka won the 1976 European Championship with Czechoslovakia. In the final against West Germany he scored the winning penalty in the shootout with a softly chipped ball up the middle as the goalie dived away; this style of penalty is now called the "Panenka penalty".
AM: Antonin Panenka
Antonin Panenka played most of his career for Bohemians Prague. Panenka won the 1976 European Championship with Czechoslovakia. In the final against West Germany he scored the winning penalty in the shootout with a softly chipped ball up the middle as the goalie dived away; this style of penalty is now called the "Panenka penalty".
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| Antonin Panenka's famous penalty |
AM/FW: Oldrich Nejedly
Oldrich Nejedly spent his entire career at Sparta Prague as an inside-forward and he is considered one of Czechoslovakia's greatest players. He was top goalscorer of the 1934 World Cup. He was awarded the Bronze Ball in the 1934 World Cup as the third most outstanding player of the tournament and was voted into the All Star Team of the tournament.
Oldrich Nejedly spent his entire career at Sparta Prague as an inside-forward and he is considered one of Czechoslovakia's greatest players. He was top goalscorer of the 1934 World Cup. He was awarded the Bronze Ball in the 1934 World Cup as the third most outstanding player of the tournament and was voted into the All Star Team of the tournament.
ST/RW: Zdeněk Nehoda
Zdeněk Nehoda was Czechoslovak Footballer of the Year Winner: 1978, 1979. He earned 92 caps. He was a part of the Golden Generation that won the Euro 1976 and finished 3rd 4 years later in the European Championship of 1980. For club football, he played for Dukla Prague. In 1982, he headed to play in the West where he played in West Germany, France and Belgium.
ST: Milan Baroš
Zdeněk Nehoda was Czechoslovak Footballer of the Year Winner: 1978, 1979. He earned 92 caps. He was a part of the Golden Generation that won the Euro 1976 and finished 3rd 4 years later in the European Championship of 1980. For club football, he played for Dukla Prague. In 1982, he headed to play in the West where he played in West Germany, France and Belgium.
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| Zdeněk Nehoda |
ST: Milan Baroš
At home, he played for Baník Ostrava before joining Liverpool in 2002. He was a part of the team that won the 2005 Champions League. He later played for Lyon, Aston Villa, Portsmouth, Galatasaray, etc. He earned 90 caps and was a key player for Czech Republic's Golden Generation in 2000's. He was the top scorer at UEFA Euro 2004.
ST: Antonin Puc
He played 61 matches for Czechoslovakia, scoring 35 goals. He played for Czechoslovakia in the 1934 FIFA World Cup scoring two goals, including one in the final, a 2-1 loss against Italy, and also played in the 1938 edition. He spent most of his club career with Slavia Prague. He is the all-time leading scorer for the Czechoslovak national team.
He played 61 matches for Czechoslovakia, scoring 35 goals. He played for Czechoslovakia in the 1934 FIFA World Cup scoring two goals, including one in the final, a 2-1 loss against Italy, and also played in the 1938 edition. He spent most of his club career with Slavia Prague. He is the all-time leading scorer for the Czechoslovak national team.
ST: Jan Koller
He is best remembered for being the huge striker playing for the Czech Republic and Borussia Dortmund in the 2000s. He began his career at Sparta Prague, then moved to Belgium with Lokeren and Anderlecht. He also played for Monaco. He is the all-time leading goal scorer for his country, with 55 goals in 91 appearances.
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| Jan Koller |
Honorable Mention
Vladimír Šmicer, Tomáš Skuhravý, Patrik Berger, Zdeněk Nehoda, Josef Čtyřoký, Jan Suchopárek, Tomáš Galásek.
Squad Explanation
-- For players who were capped by Czechoslovakia, I only selected ethnic Czech players. I am opened to all players who were capped by Czech Republic.
-- The team that finished second at Euro 1996 is underrepresented here.
-- Vladimír Šmicer seldom got mention on any all-time list for Czech Republic.
-- Tomáš Skuhravý was a star in the World Cuop Finals in 1990, but his career was relatively quiet after the WC Finals. I chose other players who had a better career with the national team.
Formation
Czech can start in goal too.
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