When the Czech Republic first take to the field against
Russia, on 8 June, many of their fans may be worrying just where their goals
are going to come from. Michal Bilek’s side only found the net on 12 occasions,
despite conceding just eight in a successful qualifying campaign.
The concern can be found in a lack of a reliable goal
scorer. Defender, Michal Kadlec, managed four during qualifying, and only once
did the Czechs bag more than two goals in any game: a 4-1 victory over lowly
Lithuania.
Kadlec scored a brace in that clash, both strikes from the
penalty spot. His only goal in open play came via a tap-in against
Liechtenstein, the full-back also scoring an equalising penalty against
Scotland in the final minute of play at Hamden Park.
The Czech Republic cannot continuously rely on a defender to
pull them out of trouble. Captain, Tomas Rosicky, and former Liverpool striker,
Milan Baros, should have done more than yield one goal between them in
qualifying.
Granted, the Czechs came through a five-nation group, with
two of their games against world champions, Spain, but to score so few against
the rest of the field suggests their Euro 2012 appearance may be no more than a
cameo.
As the tournament’s lowest-scoring qualifiers, the Czechs
are somewhat blessed to be in a group that should not witness the most
goal-friendly collection of games.
Greece scored just 14 in qualifying, while Russia faired a little
better, with 17 themselves. If the Czechs are going to progress from Group A,
they need to find some firepower up front, or risk monotonous 0-0 draws against
resolute opposition.
The England side have a similar issue to the Czechs; the
absence of Wayne Rooney in the first few qualifying matches has resulted in a
reduced opinion of Roy Hodgson’s team in the England betting odds.
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