Gunpowder in Schick’s shadow

Some gave a penny for Czech Republicpresented here League of Nations as the great Cinderella of group A2, where it competes with Spain, Portugal and Switzerland after they were promoted to the last edition of the tournament organized by UEFA. The Czech coach was wearing sheepskin when he handed over the list, in which he mentioned ten casualties. “We’re missing about ten players who would have been here but couldn’t play because of injuries,” he lamented. Jaroslav Silhavy warning his team at the press conference where he announced the squad. The most important, no doubt, is his striker Patrick Schickfrom Bayer Leverkusen, who had to have his groin operated on after finishing on the German team because, as he revealed, he was suffering from unbearable pain.

The 26-year-old striker is one of the sensations in the Bundesliga this season, with 24 goals in 27 games, second only to Lewandowski (35 of 34) and preceding Haland (22 of 24). A candy for the quoted battering ram market, but quickly removed from the showcase after Bayer Leverkusen renewed his contract until 2027 almost 10 days ago.

To Czech Republic, who was left without a place for the next World Cup in Qatar, is missing other key players such as Matej Vydra, striker for Burnley, and midfielders Antonin Barak, from Hellas Verona, and Tomas Holes, from in Slavia Prague, who was also wounded. Therefore, West Ham’s Czech tandem Tomas Soucek and Vladimir Coufal were called a priori to lead the team from Silhavy. Despite this, in the first game against Switzerland, the great hero along with goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik, ex-Sevilla, was Jan Kuchtawho scored the Czech’s first goal and caused the second, Sow’s work on his own goal.

kuchtaThe, 25, appeared secretly to take advantage of his chance at Schick’s disappearance. Armed at number 10 and leading the attack, he made his debut as a scorer with his national team in his seventh official match against his country. The striker, who signed for Lokomtiv Moscow in January from Slavia Prague, added 15 goals and 10 assists in 37 games between clubs this past season.

But the great promise is adam hlozek19 years old and who will be with Schick at Bayern Leverkusen from next season. This year, the attacker appeared in Sparta Prague, where he scored 15 goals and shared another 17. He is a second striker and with his compatriot he can continue to grow in the Bundesliga. Good news for him and his team.

So. Spain It is better not to trust the absences of the Czech Republic, who have already won the first match against Switzerland (2-1) and came without complications, with nothing to lose and all to gain in their first run in the highest category of the Nations League .