Šimůnek drafted into Czech squad

Jan Šimůnek has received a first Czech Republic call-up for the 17 October qualifier against Germany with three key players set to be suspended for the tie.

Defensive concerns
A silver medal winner at the recent FIFA U-21 World Cup in Canada, the 20-year-old central defender has been drafted in as Karel Brückner looks to deal with the absences of defender Marek Jankulovski, midfielder Jan Polák and forward Milan Baroš, all of whom are serving one-match suspensions. With Zdeněk Grygera and Martin Jiránek also out through injury, Brückner is short of options in defence. Meanwhile, Marek Matějovský returns to replace Tomáš Sivok in midfield. The Czechs are second in UEFA EURO 2008™ Group D, two points behind leaders Germany.

Czech Republic squad
Goalkeepers: Petr Čech (Chelsea FC), Jaromír Blažek (1. FC Nürnberg).

Defenders: Radoslav Kováč (FC Spartak Moskva), David Rozehnal (Newcastle United FC), Tomáš Ujfaluši (ACF Fiorentina), Tomáš Zápotočný (Udinese Calcio), Zdeněk Pospěch (AC Sparta Praha), Jan Šimůnek (Vfl Wolfsburg).

Midfielders: Tomáš Galásek (1. FC Nürnberg), David Jarolím (Hamburger SV), Jaroslav Plašil (CA Osasuna), Tomáš Rosický (Arsenal FC), Libor Sionko (FC København), Marek Matějovský (FK Mladá Boleslav).

Forwards: Jan Koller (AS Monaco FC), Marek Kulič (AC Sparta Praha), Martin Fenin (FK Teplice), Stanislav Vlček (SK Slavia Praha).