The barrage is coming. How could the national team line-up against Sweden look like?

On Thursday, the Czech national team will face a barrage against Sweden for the World Championship in Qatar. Jaroslav Šilhavý is very worried about what line-up to send to the crucial match, as the skeleton of the successful Euro almost fell apart.

Solid stoppers Čelůstka and Kalas, Coufal and Bořil on the lines, captain Souček in the midfield and goal scorer Schick in the attack. This was the backbone of the Czech national team at last year’s Euro, where coach Jaroslav Šilhavý led the team to the quarter-finals. But of the aforementioned mainstays, only Soucek remains for the barrage.

Šilhavý had to go through several sleepless nights while composing the nomination, and the same will be true for the starting line-up. His defence has completely fallen apart and his attack is also uncertain. What are the options how he could put the line-up together?

Let’s start in goal, where Tomas Vaclik is the number one and nothing will change that. But there are already four question marks on defense. It’s possible that Tomas Holeš, who is currently excelling in this position in Slavia and is one of the best in every game, will be brought in at stopper. His speed and strength will come in handy when intercepting the fast-footed Alexander Isak.

But who will go with him? Šilhavý has five options. Jakub Brabec, who is a regular for Aris in Greece, has never really convinced in the national jersey. The second option is the two-metre tall Tomas Petrasek, who is a regular for Polish side Rakow, who are currently second in the table. However, he is practically untested in the national team, with only 2 starts.

Šilhavy can also reach for David Zim. The talented stopper is playing into the hands of playing with Holeš from Slavia, but his workload in Turin is against him. He has recently dropped out of the lineup and last saw the field on February 12. The last two options are to deploy Jaroslav Zelený or newcomer Ladislav Krejčí II.

Outfielders and midfield

And the fullbacks? Aleš Matějů is a certain option, who can play on the right and left flank. Milan Havel or Jaroslav Zelený is also a typical back in the team. Lukáš Masopust, who plays so regularly in Slavia, can play right-back.

Moving to the midfield, there are also several options. Captain Souček is a certainty at defensive midfielder and Antonín Barák, who is in form, is playing on the sub-field. Jakub Jankto also had a certain position on the left wing, but he hasn’t been playing in Getafe lately.

Šilhavý can use Michal Sadílek, Ladislav Krejčí II or Holeš next to Souček, in case he chooses other stoppers. Ondřej Lingr, Jakub Pešek, Jan Sýkora or Lukáš Masopust are in consideration for the wing positions. But there is one more option.

In the absence of Schick, there are three options for the attack – Adam Hložek, Jan Kuchta and Tomas Pekhart, who was injured over the weekend. With Kuchta’s current form in Russia, it would be a shame to leave him on the bench. Hložek could slide in on the wing.

Possible Czech national team line-up

Vaclik
Matějů – Brabec – Holeš – Zelený
Soucek – Sadilek
Masopust – Barák – Jankto
Hložek

Second variant

Vaclik
Masopust – Petrasek – Holeš – Matějů
Soucek – Sadilek
Lingr – Barák – Hložek
Kuchta

Third variant

Vaclik
Matějů – Holeš – Zelený – Sadílek
Souček – Krejci II.
Pešek – Barák – Hložek
Kuchta

Šilhavý has several options for the starting lineup. Let’s hope that he will eventually choose the right one and we will be able to deal with the starting lineup for Poland.

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