Czech Republic’s record against Group D opponents
Saturday, January 9, 2016
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Memories of a UEFA EURO 2008 meeting with Turkey may loom large for the Czech Republic, with meetings with Spain and Croatia preceding that rematch in Group D.
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Qualifying: Group A winners
Top scorer: Bořek Dočkal (4 goals)
Qualifying record: P10 W7 D1 L2 F19 A14 Pts22
EURO best: winners 1976 (as Czechoslovakia)
Last EURO: 2012 (quarter-finals)
EURO appearances: 8 (1968, 1976, 1980 (all as Czechoslovakia), 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012)
Czech Republic v Spain (15.00CET, 13 June, Toulouse)
EURO P6 W2 D0 L4 F7 A10
World Cup P3 W1 D1 L1 F1 A1
Friendlies P7 W4 D1 L2 F8 A5
- Spain qualified for the 1998 FIFA World Cup at the Czechs' expense. The only goal in their two qualifying meetings was a penalty converted by Fernando Hierro; Raúl González won the first of his 102 caps in Prague in October 1996.
- The teams also met in UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying. David Villa scored twice for Spain in a 2-1 win in Granada, with Juan Mata and Xabi Alonso on target in Spain's 2-0 away victory.
- Jaroslav Plašil, the Czech midfielder, was at Spanish club CA Osasuna between 2007 and 2009, scoring eight goals in 66 Liga appearances.
Czech Republic v Croatia (18.00CET, 17 June, St-Etienne)
EURO P0 W0 D0 L0 F0 A0
World Cup P0 W0 D0 L0 F0 A0
Friendlies P2 W0 D1 L1 F3 A5
- The nations drew 1-1 in their first meeting at a tournament in Casablanca in December 1996, Croatia winning 4-1 on penalties to lift the King Hassan II Cup.
- Croatia forward Nikola Kalinić scored twice in a 4-2 friendly win in Pula in February 2012 – the first time the Czech Republic had conceded four goals in a game.
- Czech captain Tomáš Rosický scored his 20th international goal in that Pula defeat.
Czech Republic v Turkey (21.00CET, 21 June, Lens)
EURO P5 W2 D1 L2 F7 A6
World Cup P4 W4 D0 L0 F14 A1
Friendlies P9 W5 D2 L2 F18 A7
- The teams qualified together for UEFA EURO 2016 from Group A, the Czech Republic taking top spot and Turkey going through as the best third-placed team. Each beat the other away from home, the Czechs winning 2-1 in Istanbul thanks to Bořek Dočkal's winner; Turkey turned the tables with a 2-0 triumph in Prague through a Selçuk İnan penalty and Hakan Çalhanoğlu.
- The only other competitive meeting was a five-goal thriller at UEFA EURO 2008, Turkey coming from two down to win 3-2 in Geneva. Two late Nihat Kahveci goals took them into the quarter-finals while eliminating their opponents.
- Czech defender Tomáš Sivok, striker Tomáš Necid (both Bursaspor) and defender Michal Kadlec (Fenerbahçe) all play in the Turkish Süper Lig.