Team: Czech Republic

Mature, but still a tasty prospect

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Coach: Karel Bruckner
Captain: Tomas Galasek
Winners: Never - runners-up 1934 & 1962 as Czechoslovakia
Pitted against: Italy, Ghana, USA
Prospects: Good, but only if ageing legs hold firm
Odds: 33-1

In case anyone was still under the illusion that the Czech Republic's sole contribution to modern Europe has been affordable high quality beer, there should be a reminder this summer that they have also provided some of the best footballers around in recent years, writes Carl O'Malley

Though Karel Bruckner's side is maturing a little quicker than he would like, they still look a tasty prospect even if a touch beechwood aged.

Bruckner described qualification for Germany as his "finest hour", despite guiding his side to the semi-final of the European Championships in Portugal 2004, where they lost 1-0 to eventual winners Greece.

That defeat didn't stop observers from heralding them 'team of the tournament' after a five-goal thriller in which they came from two down to beat Holland plus a 3-0 win over Denmark in the quarter-finals.

Qualifying for Germany however, was a formidable task since they were grouped with Romania, Holland and Norway. The fact that they came second to Marco van Basten’s Dutch side with a total of 27 points, just two ahead of Romania, is proof, if needed, that this bunch still have what it takes.

They're not all picking up their bus passes just yet. Latest Arsenal acquisition Tomas Rosicky and Milan Baros of Aston Villa are still only 25.

The latter may be viewed as a Liverpool cast-off and Villa Park plodder by some, but he was top scorer in Portugal and still forms a frighteningly effective strikeforce with Borussia Dortmund’s six foot seven inch giant Jan Koller. Galatasaray's Marek Heinz has also muscled his way into the goal scoring tally.

And with the experience of Pavel Nedved (34) and Karel Poborsky (34) behind them, Bruckner’s mature side are fancied by some to sign-off in style, though they will miss the Vladimir Smicer's impact from the bench after a leg injury forced the Bordeaux player out of the competition.

Between the posts, Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech stands in the way of the USA, Ghana and Italy. The young stopper still holds a Czech record for the longest time without conceding in his domestic league while playing with Sparta Prague.

He then impressed with French side Rennes before winning two titles with Chelsea - where at one stage keeping a clean sheet for another record of 1,025 minutes.

Apart from a squad bulging with talent and experience the Czech Republic have the added advantage of being very familiar with their surroundings in Germany. Rosicky, Koller, David Jarolim, Jiri Stajner and Jan Polak all have experience of the Bundesliga and its stadia.

World Cup Squad

Goalkeepers: Jaromir Blazek (Sparta Prague), Petr Cech (Chelsea), Antonin Kinsky (Saturn Ramenskoye)
Defenders: Zdenek Grygera (Ajax Amsterdam), Marek Jankulovski (AC Milan), Martin Jiranek (Spartak Moscow), Radoslav Kovac (Spartak Moscow), Pavel Mares (Zenit St Petersburg), David Rozehnal (Paris St Germain), Tomas Ujfalusi (Fiorentina)
Midfielders: Tomas Galasek (Ajax Amsterdam), David Jarolim (Hamburg SV), Pavel Nedved (Juventus), Jaroslav Plasil (Monaco), Karel Poborsky (Ceske Budejovice), Jan Polak (Nuremberg), Tomas Rosicky (Borussia Dortmund), Libor Sionko (Glasgow Rangers)
Forwards: Milan Baros (Aston Villa), Marek Heinz (Galatasaray), Jan Koller (Borussia Dortmund), Vratislav Lokvenc (Red Bull Salzburg), Jiri Stajner (Hanover 96).