PRAGUE (AP) - The Czech Republic has been hit by injuries in the midfield ahead of next month’s 2018 World Cup qualifying games against defending champion Germany and Azerbaijan.
Captain Tomas Rosicky sustained an unspecified injury following his transfer to Sparta Prague from Arsenal, and Hertha Berlin playmaker Vladimir Darida had surgery after injuring an ankle.
Czech coach Karel Jarolim says “we have to cope” with a “significant hit.”
He spoke after naming a 19-man squad ahead of the Oct. 8 game in Hamburg and Oct. 11 home match in Ostrava.
Sampdoria striker Patrik Schick could make his second international appearance, while attacking midfielder Milan Petrzela returns for the first time since October 2015.
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Czech Republic squad:
Goalkeepers: Jaroslav Drobny (Werder Bremen), Tomas Koubek (Sparta Prague), Tomas Vaclik (FC Basel)
Defenders: Theodor Gebre Selassie (Werder Bremen), Pavel Kaderabek (Hoffenheim), Filip Novak (Midtjylland), Tomas Sivok (Bursaspor), Marek Suchy (FC Basel), Jan Sykora (Liberec)
Midfielders: Borek Dockal (Sparta Prague), Martin Frydek (Sparta Prague), Tomas Horava (Viktoria Plzen), Ladislav Krejci (Bologna), David Pavelka (Kasimpasa), Milan Petrzela (Viktoria Plzen), Jiri Skalak (Brighton)
Forwards: Vaclav Kadlec (Sparta Prague), Patrik Schick (Sampdoria), Matej Vydra (Derby)
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