Czechs looking after No1

Injuries have forced Czech Republic coach Karel Brückner to reassess his goalkeeping options for the friendly against the Republic of Ireland in Dublin on 31 March.

Superb form
With Stade Rennais FC goalkeeper Petr Cech and AC Sparta Praha's Jaromír Blažek both unavailable, Brückner has brought the 33-year-old Martin Vaniak back into his squad. The goalkeeper, who made his last international appearance - his sixth - against Slovakia in August 2002 has been in superb form for SK Sigma Olomouc, keeping eleven clean sheets in 22 league appearances.

Second berth
The second goalkeeping berth in the squad has gone to Antonín Kinský, who left the 2001 Czech champions FC Slovan Liberec to join Russian side FC Saturn Moskovskaya Oblast during the winter break.

Rosický injured
Brückner has also had to make outfield changes from the squad that earned a 2-2 draw against Italy in their last friendly, with BV Borussia Dortmund midfield player Tomás Rosický the major absentee with a broken arm.

Plasil selected
In Rosický's absence, the AS Monaco FC midfield player Jaroslav Plasil has received his first international call-up, following the debuts handed to RC Strasbourg's Václav Drobný and Club Brugge KV's David Rozehnal against Italy. Rozehnal retains his place in Brückner's 19-man squad but Drobný will not been travelling to Dublin.

Returning stars
The Czechs' preparations for UEFA EURO 2004™ will be enhanced by the return of two other players after absences from international action. Liverpool FC striker Milan Baroš features for the first time since breaking his leg last September while Hamburger SV defender Tomás Ujfaluši is back after undergoing knee surgery in December.

Czech Republic squad:
Kinský, Vaniak, Bolf, Grygera, Jankulovski, Johana, Jiránek, Ujfaluši, Rozehnal, Galásek, Jarošík, Nedved, Poborský, Týce, Baroš, Heinz, Koller, Lokvenc,  Štajner.