Five players who can earn a stronger place in the national team on Thursday

The Czech national team will play matches against Belarus, Belgium and Ukraine in September. The much reduced nomination gives a chance to a few “greenhorns” to show themselves. Who are they?

Jakub Pesek

Undoubtedly, the most attention will be on Jakub Pesek’s back. He had an excellent start to his Sparta career and after ten competitive games (4+2) he is considered one of the mainstays.

Pešek scored his most important goal and assist in the Champions League second round return leg against Rapid. In the absence of Lukáš Masopust, Lukáš Provod and Petr Ševčík, Sparta’s summer signing should not be missing from Thursday’s starting line-up.

Adam Hložek

It may help Pešek that his club teammate Adam Hložek will most likely start next to him. Normally he would be more likely to come off the bench, but given the absence of number one and two options (Patrik Schick and Michael Krmencik), Hložek is pretty much the only alternative.

The talent of Letenske has managed to score three goals and add two assists on the league scene so far this season, he also assisted one goal in the Champions League qualifiers.

Michal Sadilek

Michal Sadílek, Ladislav Krejčí Jr., Ondřej Lingr. This is the trio of the chosen ones that are the most trusted going forward after finishing in the U21 national team. Only the first named made it to the September A-team nomination and it seems he won’t be included in the number.

Jan Bořil, who is the only left back in the team, did not travel to the meeting. Sadílek is primarily a central midfielder, but he can play on the left side of the defence and has several national team starts. Will he grab this unique opportunity by the scruff of the neck?

Václav Jemelka

A bit unexpected name, on the other hand quite logical. Three stoppers dropped out of the original nomination (Kúdela due to injury and Jakub Brabec and David Zima due to their transfer negotiations).

So one of the nominated rookies will start next to Tomas Kalas. Václav Jemelka already has two starts in the national jersey (for the “B” team due to the first team quarantine) and after a good season in Belgium, it seems that he will get a chance alongside players like Tomáš Souček or Vladimír Coufal. Unless Alex Král is brought in.

Matěj Vydra

Fans don’t like him the most, but in the absence of Schick and Krmencik, Matěj Vydra could get more playing time. Whether on the power play or as an offensive midfielder, if he doesn’t impress this time around, he probably never will.

It’s hard to say how his form is, he played sixteen minutes in the first three rounds at Burnley.

Source: Transfermarket