Team guide: Czech Republic

Runners-up in 2000, winners in 2002 and bronze medallists nine years later, the Czech Republic have high hopes for the 2015 finals.

Jakub Dovalil led Lvíčata (lion cubs) to a fourth-place finish in Denmark two tournaments ago and he will be in charge again as the Czech Republic prepare for the most prestigious sporting competition ever organised in the country. "We cannot have modest targets – our aim is to qualify from our group," said Dovalil. "Then we would have a medal and anything could happen."

Coach: Jakub Dovalil
Born 08/02/1974
Dovalil was appointed in November 2008, four months after he led the Czech U19s to the last four of their UEFA European Championship on home soil. In 2006 the former Slavia Praha youth coach had also steered the U17s to their respective continental final, where they succumbed on penalties to Russia.

Tournament record
2013: did not qualify
2011: fourth place
2009: did not qualify
2007: group stage
2006: did not qualify
2004: did not qualify
2002: winners
2000: runners-up
1998: did not qualify
1996: quarter-finals
1994: quarter-finals (as Czechoslovakia)
1992: quarter-finals (as Czechoslovakia)
1990: quarter-finals (as Czechoslovakia)
1988: quarter-finals (as Czechoslovakia)
1986: did not qualify (as Czechoslovakia)
1984: did not qualify (as Czechoslovakia)
1982: did not qualify (as Czechoslovakia)
1980: quarter-finals (as Czechoslovakia)
1978: quarter-finals (as Czechoslovakia)

2015 qualifying
Qualified automatically as hosts

Czech Republic U21s capped at senior level
Ladislav Krejčí (14), Václav Kadlec (11), Pavel Kadeřábek (8), Tomáš Kalas (1)

Players with previous U21 final tournament experience
Denmark 2011: Václav Kadlec

Most capped player
All-time: 46 Jan Polák
Current: 23 Tomáš Kalas

Leading scorer
All-time: 17 Tomáš Pekhart
Current: 7 Václav Kadlec

Biggest wins
Final tournament
0-4: Serbia v Czech Republic, 20/06/15
Group stage, Letná Stadium, Prague

Qualifying
8-0: Czech Republic v Andorra 10/08/11
2013 qualifying group stage, Městský Stadium, Mlada Boleslav
0-8: San Marino v Czech Republic 09/06/09
2001 qualifying group stage, Olimpico, Serravalle
8-0: Czech Republic v Liechtenstein 11/09/07
2009 qualifying group stage, Horni Pocernice, Horni Pocernice
8-0: Czech Republic v Bulgaria 05/10/01
2002 qualifying group stage, Na Stínadlech, Teplice

Heaviest defeats
Final tournament
3-1: Italy v Czech Republic 17/06/07
2007 group stage, Gelredome, Arnhem
2-0: France v Czech Republic 16/05/022002 group stage, Les Charmilles, Geneva
0-2: Czech Republic v Spain 15/06/11
2011 group stage, Viborg Stadion, Viborg

Czechoslovakia were also beaten 3-0 by Italy in a 1994 quarter-final, before the competition became a final tournament

Qualifying
4-0: Spain v Czech Republic 07/06/97
1998 qualifying group stage, Municipal El Plantío, Burgos

*Statistics last updated 24/06/15