Czech Republic: Road to Euro 2012

Czech Republic are currently ranked 26 as per FIFA rankings below group opponents Greece(14) and Russia(11). But the 1996 finalists and 2004 semi-finalists, have always proved to be tricky and gutsy opponents. A repeat of their 2004 show could trouble a few teams.

Being the only side in Group A to qualify via the play offs, Czech Republic have maintained their 100 per cent qualification record at the final tournament since they became an independent state in 1993.

The qualifying rounds did not begin too well for the Czech side though. Lithuania gave them a shock 1-0 defeat to rattle the Czech nerves. But Michal Bilek's men did not disappoint further as they beat Scotland 1-0 and then managed a 2-0 triumph over Lichtenstein.

With Vicente del Bosque's Spanish side in their group, the automatic qualification to the final tournament in Poland/Ukraine was always going to be a daunting task for the Czechs.

But the Czechs managed to open the scoring against the European and World Champions, Spain, at Andalucia. Jaroslav Plasil gave the visitors a shocking lead in the first half. David Villa though netted a brace to land the visitors a deadly blow.

Veteran Milan Baros and Michal Kadlec scored one each in a comforatble victory for the Czechs over Lichtenstein to bring them back to winning ways.

However, hardly anything went right for the Czech Republic in their next two fixtures. They survived Scotland, whom they had beaten earlier, with a iffy penalty decision to draw 2-2. As expected they lost to Spain yet again to set up a heart wrecking final qualifier game against Lithuania.

But with backs to the wall, the Czechs responded brilliantly. Kadlec and Jan Rezek scored two goals each as Czech Republic produced probably their best performance of the qualifiers.

In the play off, Montenegro were the hurdle that the Czechs had to overcome in order to qualify for the final tournament. In the home leg, Vaclav Pilar got Czech Republic off the mark with a curler. Tomas Sivok scored a late goal to hand them a 2-0 lead going into the second leg.

It was Petr Cech who came to the party for the Czechs this time. The Chelsea star defended the Czech citadel with all his might before Petr Jiracek confirmed Czech Republic's place at the Euro 2012 with a late goal.

Czech Republic would be hoping for a similar performance from their star goalie in the Euro main event.