PRAGUE (AP) — Attacking midfielder Adam Flozek The Hoffenheim player has recovered from a long-term injury and was named in the Czech Republic’s World Cup qualifying squad on Thursday.
Flozek missed most of the season with calf and foot injuries, but his coach said he is feeling better. Miroslav Koubekhoping to test him in a warm-up game.
Flozek last played for the national team in the World Cup qualifiers last June. The 23-year-old has played 41 international games and scored four goals.
Coach Koubek named three new players to his 29-man squad, including 17-year-old Sparta Prague midfielder Huga Sohorek, Viktoria Plzen midfielder Aleksandar Sojka, and Mlada Boleslav forward Krzysztof Kabongo.
Coach Koubek said they will at least get a chance in a warm-up match against Kosovo in Prague on May 31st. Immediately after that game, the coach reduced the number of players on the team to 26 players, and the team is scheduled to depart for the United States for another warm-up against Guatemala in New Jersey on June 4th.
The other three players who were part of the team in the play-offs against Ireland and Denmark are yet to play for the team. That includes Cincinnati midfielder Pavel Boucha.
The mainstay of the team included the Lyon midfielder Pavel ShulkBayer Leverkusen striker Patrick Thicke and West Ham midfielder Tomáš Soucek.
Koubek also included two players from Slavia Prague, forward Tomáš Chori and defender David Dudela. Suspended for disciplinary reasons He has been placed on the transfer list by the club for the remainder of the season.
During the World Cup, the Czech national team will be based in Mansfield, near Dallas.
The opening game of the tournament co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada will be against South Korea on June 12 in Guadalajara, Mexico. Other opponents in Group A were South Africa in Atlanta on June 18th and Mexico in Mexico City on June 25th.
The Czech national team qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 2006.
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Czech Republic:
Goalkeepers: Lukasz Hornicek (Braga), Maciej Kováš (PSV Eindhoven), Jindřich Staněk (Slavia Prague)
Defenders: Vladimir Coufal (Hoffenheim), David Dudela (Slavia Prague), Tomáš Hores (Slavia Prague), Robin Franács (Hoffenheim), Štěpan Chaloupek (Slavia Prague), David Jurasek (Slavia Prague), Ladislav Krejci (Wolverhampton), Jaroslav Zeleny (Sparta Prague), David Zima (Slavia Prague)
Midfielders: Pavel Buscha (Cincinnati), Lukás Cerv (Viktoria Plzen), Vladimir Dalida (Hradec Králové), Tomáš Ladra (Viktoria Plzen), Lukáš Provod (Slavia Prague), Michal Sadilek. (Slavia Prague), Hugo Sohorek (Sparta Prague), Aleksandar Sojka (Viktoria Plzen), Tomáš Soucek (West Ham), Pavel Szulc (Lyon), Denis Wyszyński (Viktoria Plzen).
Forwards: Tomáš Čori (Slavia Prague), Adam Frozek (Hoffenheim), Mosimir Chytil (Slavia Prague), Krzysztof Kabongo (Mladá Boleslav), Jan Kuchta (Sparta Prague), Patrik Schick (Bayer Leverkusen).
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AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup
