Czech Republic facing need to overhaul aging squad

For the Czech Republic, it's time to give youth a chance.

Following its group stage exit from the European Championship, the Czech Republic has little option than to replace its aging starts with the next generation of players.

For this tournament, Czech coach Pavel Vrba stuck with an experienced group of players, many of whom came from the domestic league, such as 34-year-old Sparta Prague forward David Lafata, who failed to replicate his club form.

The Czech Republic was the third oldest team in France. Its youngest player was the 23-year-old backup goalkeeper Tomas Koubek.

Some of the squad, such as goalkeeper Petr Cech and midfielder Tomas Rosicky, even played at Euro 2004 when the team made the semifinals only to lose to eventual champion Greece.

There's speculation that Cech, 34, and Rosicky, 35, will follow Lafata and midfielder 34-year-old Jaroslav Plasil in announcing their retirement from international football.

The Czechs were eliminated from the tournament after earning only one point from their three Group D matches. The 2-0 defeat to Turkey on Tuesday, which confirmed its early exit from Euro 2016, was particularly disappointing..

"We were taught a great lesson at the European Championship and we will learn from it," Vrba said. "The three matches showed us that football is played in a different way than we play at home. The pace of the game and the quality of players at this level are unbelievable."

Turkey could be an example for the Czechs going forward. Its coach Fatih Terim fielded 18-year-old forward Emre Mor in the match. Mor's speed posed constant difficulties for the Czech defense and it was the teenager who set up Burak Yilmaz for the opening goal after a quick counter down the right just 10 minutes into the game.

Others have used teenagers in France, too.

Switzerland coach Vladimir Petkovic has three 19-year-olds in his squad and one of them, Breel Embolo was especially sharp in a 0-0 draw against France. And Roy Hodgson of England has deployed 18-year-old striker Marcus Rashford.

It's not as if Vrba doesn't have options.

One prospect for the Czech Republic is 18-year-old forward Vaclav Cerny. Vrba has said Cerny is not experienced enough to play for the national team, even though the forward is good enough to play and score for Ajax. Another promising striker, the 20-year-old Patrik Schick of Bohemians Prague, did at least get a chance to play in a warm-up match but didn't make the team.