Nedved Czechs out

Juventus star will not return to the international fold

By Vasek Kadlec   Last updated: 14th May 2008

pavel nedved czech republic

Nedved: No Czech return

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Pavel Nedved will not step out of international retirement to help the Czech Republic at Euro 2008.

Speculation had suggested that the Juventus playmaker was willing to answer his country's call for the upcoming tournament.

However, Czech boss Karel Bruckner has confirmed that the former European Footballer of the Year will not be making the trip to Switzerland and Austria.

"He told me 'no' for the final time on Tuesday and confirmed what I had expected," Bruckner told Sport.

"Pavel Nedved has never hinted that the answer would have been any different."

Changes

With final preparations for the European Championship now being put in place, the Czech Republic have named a 23-man squad for a training camp in Austria.

Portsmouth's loan star Milan Baros, Reading's Marek Matejovsky and Chelsea's Petr Cech have all been included, while Newcastle defender David Rozehnal has also been called up after impressing during a loan spell at Lazio.

The biggest surprise in the party is uncapped striker Vaclav Sverkos. The Banik Ostrava forward is the Czech league's top scorer this season with 15 goals but had been overlooked in recent times.

Bruckner has until 28th May to decide on his final roster and has refused to rule out the possibility of making changes before that deadline passes.

"I can't rule out some changes," he said. "I think we should expect them."

Blow

Czech skipper Tomas Rosicky has already been ruled out of Euro 2008 through injury, and Bruckner admits that the loss of the Arsenal winger has come as a major disappointment.

"I can't conceal that it is a loss for us," he added.

"But that's not an excuse for us. Our aim remains to advance form the group stage"

The Czech Republic open the tournament against hosts Switzerland on 7th June and also face Turkey and Portugal in Group A.

Czech Republic squad:

Goalkeepers: Jaromir Blazek (Nuremberg), Petr Cech(Chelsea), Daniel Zitka (Anderlecht).

Defenders: Zdenek Grygera (Juventus), Marek Jankulovski (Milan), Michal Kadlec, Tomas Sivok (both Sparta Prague), Radoslav Kovac (Spartak Moscow), Zdenek Pospech (FC Copenhagen), David Rozehnal (Lazio), Tomas Ujfalusi (Fiorentina).

Midfielders: Tomas Galasek (Nuremberg), David Jarolim (Hamburg), Marek Matejovsky (Reading), Jaroslav Plasil (Osasuna), Jan Polak (Anderlecht), Daniel Pudil (Slavia Prague), Libor Sionko (FC Copenhagen), Stanislav Vlcek (Anderlecht).

Strikers: Milan Baros (Portsmouth), Martin Fenin (Eintracht Frankfurt), Jan Koller (Nuremberg), Vaclav Sverkos (Banik Ostrava).