Soccer

Rosicky in line to face Ireland

Czech Republic coach Karel Bruckner is planning to play Tomas Rosicky in the forthcoming Euro 2008 qualifiers, convinced the …

Tue Mar 13 2007 - 00:00

Czech Republic coach Karel Bruckner is planning to play Tomas Rosicky in the forthcoming Euro 2008 qualifiers, convinced the Arsenal midfielder is over his recent groin strain.

Rosicky has not appeared for the Gunners since the 1-0 loss to PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League on February 20th, but the 26-year-old could make his domestic return against Aston Villa tomorrow and should then line up for his country against Germany on March 24th before making the trip to Lansdowne Road on March 28th.

"Tomas Rosicky should play in Premier League on Wednesday and he will play against Germany as well," said Bruckner. "We still have some names to add to the nomination. We have various alternatives, the squad is not necessarily the final one."

Libor Sionko may not be a regular starter for Scottish side Rangers, but Bruckner is confident he can do a job for the Czech side. He said: "I am convinced he is able to put in a comparably good performance as he did in the qualifier against Slovakia (3-0 away win in September)."

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Celtic midfielder Jiri Jarosik is missing, but Bruckner is not overly concerned by the former Chelsea man's absence.

"In his possible position, we have two better players in the team — Rosicky and (Marek) Matejovsky. Plus we have (Jan) Polak who is a complete footballer."

Bruckner is able to include in-form strike duo Jan Koller and Milan Baros against the Germans.

Petr Cech will start in goal having last month been given clearance by Uefa to wear his protective head guard in the competition. Cech must wear the guard for the rest of the season after suffering a fractured skull in an on-pitch collision against Reading last year.

Squad: Petr Cech (Chelsea), Jaromir Blazek (Sparta Prague), Marek Cech (Luch-Energia Vladivostok); Zdenek Grygera (Ajax), Marek Jankulovski (AC Milan), Radoslav Kovac (Spartak Moscow), Martin Jiranek (Spartak Moscow), David Rozehnal (Paris St Germain), Tomas Ujfalusi (Fiorentina); Tomas Galasek (Nurnberg), Jaroslav Plasil (Monaco), Jan Polak (Nurnberg), Tomas Rosicky (Arsenal), Libor Sionko (Rangers), Daniel Pudil (Slovan Liberec), Marek Matejovsky (Mlada Boleslav); Jan Koller (Monaco), Milan Baros (Lyon), David Lafata (Austria Vienna), Marek Kulic (Sparta Prague).