The era of Pavel Nedved, Milan Baros, Tomas Rosicky and Petr Cech in the Czech Republic team is long gone. And the great international successes such as European Championship runners-up in 1996 against Germany or the quarter-finals of Euro 2012 are also in the past. There has been a change of generations over recent years in the 'Reprezentace' (The Team). Werkself striker Patrik Schick is happy with the direction the team is taking: "When those players stopped playing for the national team, the lads were not yet ready for the task at hand. They just weren't experienced enough. But after four years of working together each and everyone has developed. Now we've got good quality in the team," the 25-year-old explained.
The Czechs will have to be on top of their game in every match as, after the opening match against Scotland, the Czech Republic face two genuine heavyweights in World Cup runners-up Croatia and World Cup semi-finalists England. However, Schick believes in his team's own abilities: "Of course, we’re in a difficult group but we played England in the qualifiers and beat them 2-1. So we have the experience of overcoming a strong team within top players."
The Prague-born striker is positive about the organisation and team spirit in the Czech Republic side. He believes it's very difficult to break down the Silhavy team due to the "many workers on the pitch." Schick is looking to help out the team with the abilities that make him stand out: "I want to score as many goals as possible to support the team on the pitch. Of course, I'd like to go through this difficult group with my team. If we do that then we'll all be happy," Schick declared with ambition.
With all the anticipation for the international tournament, the whole thing is a bit of a downer for Patrik Schick. A European Championship away from the times of the pandemic would probably have been better for the supporters of the 'Reprezentace' in terms of following their team across Europe. "I wish it were possible for every spectator to come to Euro 2020. Even if it would be 90% English and only 10% Czechs in the stadium, I would have been very happy with that. We play for the people, the fans," the striker said with regret. Nevertheless, Schick wants to be able to help fans celebrate at home in front of the TV...
HERE is the Euro 2020 interview with Aleksandar Dragovic.
HERE is the Euro 2020 interview with Lukas Hradecky.
The European jersey has been launched, the UEL opponents have been drawn – and anticipation for the European campaign is running high. To mark the occasion, an autograph session was held on Friday afternoon, 28 August, at the Fanwelt with current Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and official club legend Paulo Sergio.
Show more
After six and a half years, Exequiel Palacios is leaving the Bundesliga and moving from Bayer 04 to the Premier League. The Argentine, who as a Werkself player won the World Cup with his national team four years ago and finished as runners-up at this summer’s tournament, will play for newly promoted English side Ipswich Town with immediate effect. The 27-year-old, whose contract in Leverkusen was due to run until 30 June 2030, joined Bayer 04 in January 2020 as a promising young talent. He steadily developed into one of the best defensive midfielders in the German top flight.
Show more
When Exequiel Palacios moved from the Argentinian club River Plate to Bayer Leverkusen on 1 January 2020, the then 21-year-old could not have imagined just how successful the next six and a half years would be for him. Pala, as he is known, had already won the Copa Libertadores – the most prestigious competition in South American club football – with River Plate. But there were still so many more trophies to come.
Show more
To mark Exequiel Palacios’s departure, we’ve put together a compilation of the midfielder’s finest and most important goals from his six-and-a-half years at the club.
Show more
