Is the Czech Team too old?

I definitely think that age is a concern for this CR squad. With their suspect D and aged MF, I could see teams coming from behind to defeat them 2-1 or 3-2 on late goals.
That said, there are some quality young MF players in the side like Jan Polak and Tomas Rosicky. If Bruckner gives them the opportunity, they might shine.
Then there is my man Marek Heinze, who scored the goal of the 04 EC and who never fails to cause fits for the opposition. Bruckner would do well to turn to him if the oldsters appear to falter.
Finally, there is Skacel. The numbers argued for his inclusion in the squad, but he has been relegated to the alternates list. Should the CR make an early exit, critics will surely point to his omission as a significant blunder.
All that said, I think this older CR squad still has enough skill and pace to make it through the group round. In fact, I think they’ll win the division. The question is: will the older players have enough juice to see the squad through the knock-out rounds?

I believe your squad will beat the U.S. and Ghana. As a fan of Italy, I consider Czech Repub. to be the biggest threat in the group; you may even win the group.

Posted from  United States

Not only age, but fitness will be a concern at a back as well. Grygera and Jankulovski both had injury-plagued seasons and didn’t play regularly. (Same for Galasek in midfield.) Ujfalusi had a very good season though and looks sharp. Hopefully all that combined experience will help make up for the lack of pace.

I think it’s a good mix of the “old generation” and the younger boys. The younger guys need to gain experience and learn from the older ones while it’s still possible. I would not be surprised if Nedved, Smicer, and Poborsky (and maybe even a couple of others) retire from the national team after the WC.

Posted from  Canada

CZECH REPUBLIC IS VERY GOOD.I THINK THAT THEY CAN GO TO SEMIFINAL.THEY HAVE ROSICKY,BAROS,CZECH AND SOME OLD BUT GOOD PLAYERS LIKE NEDVED OR KOLLER.

Posted from  Bosnia And Herzegovina

i personally do not agree with the notion that the team is too old, it will be most certainly the last hurrah of players that have been mentioned but i think that the team is full of experience and qaulity, i also agree that Skacel should be in the team but i believe Bruckner.i think if we get out of the group then anything can happen..GO THE CZECHS

Posted from  Czech Republic

I don’t think the team is too old. Pace doesn’t have much to do with the age of players, not until they hit 40 or so. If the player trains a lot and plays at top clubs he can keep his pace for a very long time.

Michael Johnson set the world record for 400m when he was 32. The record still stands. Yes, he was a professional runner, but I still think that being 30-something doesn’t mean that you’re going to lose your pace. You could, but you don’t have to.

Plus the team has a lot of skill and experience and those can’t be replaced by pace alone.

Posted from  Canada

The Czechs have enough depth to compensate for Smicer and the other oldies. Baros might have a break out tourney as a goal scorer. At least I hope so!

Posted from  United States