Schick in Czech squad for World Cup playoff in Sweden
PRAGUE (AP) - Patrik Schick is in the Czech Republic squad for the World Cup qualifying playoff against Sweden next week.
Schick, top scorer for Bayer Leverkusen, has recovered from tearing a muscle in his left calf on Feb. 18 in the Bundesliga. He scored his 20th league goal in the game but has not played since.
His presence in the playoff game at Solna, Sweden, on March 24 would boost the Czechs' chances of qualifying for the World Cup after 16 years. He has 17 goals in 33 internationals.
Coach Jaroslav Šilhavý said on Tuesday he believed Schick would play a competitive game by the end of this week.
'œWe'll fully focus on the playoff and do everything to succeed,'ť Å ilhavý said about his 21-man squad.
Å ilhavý has serious injury worries with his entire first-choice defense from the European Championship last year not available, including West Ham defender VladimÃr Coufal.
But frontline midfielder AntonÃn Barák has recovered from an injury to be picked.
The Sweden-Czech winner will face Poland for a spot at the tournament in Qatar.
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Czech Republic Squad:
Goalkeepers: Jiřà Pavlenka (Werder Bremen), JindÅ™ich StanÄ›k (Viktoria Plzen), Tomáš VaclÃk (Olzmpiacos).
Defenders: Jakub Brabec (Aris), Aleš Matějů (Venezia), Tomáš Petrásek (Rakow Czestochowa), David Zima (Torino), Jaroslav Zelený (Jablonec).
Midfielders: AntonÃn Barák (Hellas Verona), Tomáš HoleÅ¡ (Slavia Prague), Jakub Jankto (Getafe), Ladislav KrejÄà jr. (Sparta Prague), Lukáš Masopust (Slavia Prague), Jakub PeÅ¡ek (Sparta Prague), Michal SadÃlek (Twente), Tomáš SouÄek (West Ham), Jan Sýkora (Viktoria Plzen).
Forwards: Adam Hložek (Sparta Prague), Jan Kuchta (Lokomotiv Moscow), Ondřej Lingr (Slavia Prague), Patrik Schick (Leverkusen).
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