UEFA EURO 2020 NATION PRESENTATION: CZECH REPUBLIC

 

NICKNAME: Cesti Lvi, Narodny Tym / The Czech Lions, The National team

MANAGER: Jaroslav Šilhavy

Former Czech footballer who most of his career spent in RH Cheb. He played four matches for Czechoslovakia. From 2018 Jaroslav is Czech national team manager where he already worked as assistant manager from 2001 to 2009.

MOST CAPS: Petr Čech- 124 caps from 2002 to 2016

TOP SCORER: Jan Koller- 55 goals from 1999 to 2009

HOST NATION: -

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP RECORD: From 1960 to 1992 Czech Republic was part of Czechoslovakia. 7th EURO for Czech from 1996. They have competed on every EURO since then.

BEST RESULT: Their best result was the final in 1996. They were in a group with Germany, Italia and Russia. Germany was better then Czech in the first match while they won against Italy in the second. They played a really exciting match against Russia in the last group fixture. The Russians came back from a Czech lead by two goals with Beschastnykh who scored in 85 min for 3-2. Šmicer scored three minutes later a goal that led Czech to the knock-out stage. Czech and Italy finished with the same points but Czech won in a mutual match. In the quarter-finals Czech had beaten Portugal with a great goal from Karely Poborsky. PKs were deciding in the semi-final match against France. Reynlad Pedros was the only who missed and the Czechs were into the final. Other finalists was Germany so this time Czech could revenge them for the loss in a group stage. Berger scored for Czech lead while Bierhoff scored for Germany as the match finished without a winner. Bierhoff scored his second, this time golden goal in extra time and Germans were champions.

UEFA EURO 2020 NATION PRESENTATION: CROATIA

NICKNAME: Vatreni / The Blazers

MANAGER: Zlatko Dalić

He played for several first division clubs but didn't win any cap for the national team. Dalić started his coaching career with Varteks. He become famous for his success with Al-Hilal and Al-Ain. Those results secured him a place as Croatian national team manager in 2017. He lead Croatia to their biggest success: World Cup final in Russia 2018. 

MOST CAPS: Luka Modrić- 135 caps from 2006

TOP SCORER: Davor Šuker- 45 goals from 1991 to 2002

HOST NATION: Zagreb, as a part of Yugoslavia, was the host city in 1976.

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP RECORD: Until 1992 Croatia was part of Yugoslavia. From 1996 Croatia competed on every EURO except in 2000. 6th European championships in total. 

BEST RESULT: Their best results are two quarter-finals in 1996 and 2008. For independent Croatia the first big tournament was EURO in 1996. They were in group D with Portugal, Denmark and Turkey. First match was a minimum win against Turkey while in second Croatia made a great 3-0 win over title defenders Denmark. Croats lost their 3rd match from Portugal because they played with a second team. Germany was better in the quarter-final with 2-1.

UEFA EURO 2020 NATION PRESENTATION: AUSTRIA

NICKNAME: The Team / Das Team 

MANAGER: Franco Foda

Former German footballer who represented his nation on two occasions. He played for Kaiserslautern, Bayer Leverkusen, Sturm Graz... Foda also started his coaching career with Sturm amateurs. He won his only trophies with the first team of Sturm: cup and league titles. From 2018. He is the manager of Austria.

MOST CAPS: Andreas Herzog- 103 caps from 1988 to 2003 

TOP SCORER: Anton Polster- 44 goals from 1982 to 2000

HOST NATION: Yes. In 2008 with Switzerland.

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP RECORD: This will be 3rd EURO for Austria.

BEST RESULT: Both Austrian EUROs started and finished in the group stage. In 2008 they were in group B with Croatia, Germany and Poland. They finished 3rd with one point. Two losses and one draw against Poland.

UEFA EURO 2020 NATION PRESENTATION: BELGIUM

NICKNAME: The Red Devils / Die Roten Teufel

MANAGER: Roberto Martinez

Martinez is a Spanish football coach and a former footballer who played as a midfielder. Majority of his playing career Martinez was in British football playing for Wigan, Motherwell, Swansea... He started his coaching career in Swansea and later coached Wigan and Everton. From 2016 he is a manager of a Belgium national team. Spanish manager lead them to the 3rd place on the last World Cup in 2018.

MOST CAPS: Jan Vertonghen- 123 caps from 2007

TOP SCORER: Romelu Lukaku- 57 goals from 2010

HOST NATION: Yes, twice. In 1972 and with Netherlands in 2000.

UEFA EURO RECORD: This will be 6th EURO tournament for Belgium. First back to back EURO finals since 1980 and 1984.

BEST RESULT: The Red Devils were third on their first EURO in 1972. 8 years later they played in a final where they lost from West Germany. Belgium were in the second group with host Italy, England and Spain. With two draws (ENG and ITA) and one win (SPA) they finished as first placed and secured their place in the final. Back then were different rules. Germans were better with 2:1 with two goals from Hrubesch. Vandereycken scored for Belgium.