PRAGUE (AP) — Attacking midfielder Adam Hložek of Hoffenheim has recovered from a long-term injury to be included in the preliminary Czech Republic squad for the World Cup on Thursday.
Hložek's Recovery
Hložek missed most of the season due to calf and foot injuries but has been fit, said coach Miroslav Koubek, who wants to test him in warmup games.
The 23-year-old last played for the national team last June in World Cup qualifying. He has earned 41 international caps and scored four goals.
New Additions
Koubek named three newcomers in the 29-man squad:
- Hugo Sochůrek — Midfielder, Sparta Prague, age 17
- Alexandr Sojka — Midfielder, Viktoria Plzeň
- Christophe Kabongo — Forward, Mladá Boleslav
Koubek said they will at least get a chance in the warmup against Kosovo on May 31 in Prague.
Immediately after that game, the coach will cut the squad to 26 players and the team will leave for the United States to play one more warmup against Guatemala in New Jersey on June 4.
Other Players
Three other players who were part of the team during the playoffs against Ireland and Denmark have yet to play for the team, including Cincinnati midfielder Pavel Bucha.
The team mainstays include: Lyon midfielder Pavel Šulc, Bayer Leverkusen striker Patrik Schick, and West Ham midfielder Tomáš Souček.
Koubek also included two Slavia Prague players — forward Tomáš Chorý and defender David Douděra — who were suspended for disciplinary reasons by the club for the rest of the season and transfer-listed.
World Cup Details
During the World Cup, the Czechs will be based in Mansfield, Texas, near Dallas.
They will open the Tournament co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada against South Korea on June 12 in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Their other Group A opponents:
- South Africa — June 18 in Atlanta
- Mexico — June 25 in Mexico City
The Czechs qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 2006.
Squad Lists
Goalkeepers
- Lukáš Horníček (Braga)
- Matěj Kovář (PSV Eindhoven)
- Jindřich Staněk (Slavia Prague)
Defenders
- Vladimír Coufal (Hoffenheim)
- David Douděra (Slavia Prague)
- Tomáš Holeš (Slavia Prague)
- Robin Hranáč (Hoffenheim)
- Štěpán Chaloupek (Slavia Prague)
- David Jurásek (Slavia Prague)
- Ladislav Krejčí (Wolverhampton)
- Jaroslav Zelený (Sparta Prague)
- David Zima (Slavia Prague)
Midfielders
- Pavel Bucha (Cincinnati)
- Lukáš Červ (Viktoria Plzeň)
- Vladimír Darida (Hradec Králové)
- Tomáš Ladra (Viktoria Plzeň)
- Lukáš Provod (Slavia Prague)
- Michal Sadílek (Slavia Prague)
- Hugo Sochůrek (Sparta Prague)
- Alexandr Sojka (Viktoria Plzeň)
- Tomáš Souček (West Ham)
- Pavel Šulc (Lyon)
- Denis Višinský (Viktoria Plzeň)
Forwards
- Tomáš Chorý (Slavia Prague)
- Adam Hložek (Hoffenheim)
- Mojmír Chytil (Slavia Prague)
- Christophe Kabongo (Mladá Boleslav)
- Jan Kuchta (Sparta Prague)
- Patrik Schick (Bayer Leverkusen)