One player missing from the Czech Republic’s 23 man provisional squad line up for the upcoming UEFA EURO 2008 tournament would be midfielder Pavel Nedved. The influential player has since announced his retirement from international football after the 2006 World Cup. That decision however was widely expected to be reversed with the withdrawal of Tomas Rosicky, who would still be recovering from his knee surgery.

The Czech Republic’s national coach Karel Bruckner announced his 23 provisional squad without the experienced midfielder and the team will then convene at Bad Kleinkirchheim for training. Nedved has since came out to confirm that he will not be joining the team in their preparations.

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech who will be playing in the UEFA Champions League final in Moscow on May 21st is in the squad alongside defender Radoslav Kovac from FC Spartak Moskow and has been recovering from a shoulder injury. Vaclav Sverkos, who is playing for Banik Ostrava is the newcomer in the squad. The former Borussia Monchengladbach and Hertha Berlin forward was the current Czech league season’s top scorer. Wild card entry Radek Sirl might also be included.

Goalkeepers: Petr Čech (Chelsea FC), Jaromír Blažek (1. FC Nürnberg), Daniel Zítka (RSC Anderlecht).

Defenders: Marek Jankulovski (AC Milan), David Rozehnal (S.S. Lazio), Tomáš Ujfaluši (ACF Fiorentina), Zdeněk Pospěch (FC København), Zdeněk Grygera (Juventus), Michal Kadlec (AC Sparta Praha), Tomáš Sivok (AC Sparta Praha), Radoslav Kováč (FC Spartak Moskva).

Midfielders: Tomáš Galásek (1. FC Nürnberg), David Jarolím (Hamburger SV), Jaroslav Plašil (CA Osasuna), Jan Polák (RSC Anderlecht), Marek Matějovský (Reading FC), Libor Sionko (FC København), Daniel Pudil (SK Slavia Praha), Stanislav Vlček (RSC Anderlecht).