Shimer and I will be in attendance when the U.S. plays the Czech Republic on May 25 in East Hartford in a friendly before the Americans leave for the 2010 World Cup. The Czechs didn't make the 2010 World Cup, failing to qualify out of their difficult European qualifying group.
It's predictable but still a bummer that Czech stars Tomas Rosicky and Milan Baros, two of their biggest stars, won't be making the trip since they're both nursing injuries.
Rosicky, an Arsenal midfielder, has to rest an injured ankle that prevented him from playing the last two English Premier League games. Baros, who is with Turkey's Galatasaray, has a thigh muscle problem.
The Czechs play Turkey on May 22 at Harrison, N.J., then meet the United States three days later in East Hartford, Conn.
Czech Republic coach Michal Bilek will be missing several other injured players, including West Bromwich Albion forward Roman Bednar, Hertha Berlin defender Roman Hubnik, Sochaux forward Vaclav Sverkos and Copenhagen defender Zdenek Pospech.
Defender Michal Kadlec is not available because he will be on a tour of China with Bayer Leverkusen.
"We wanted to get the strongest team possible but many players are injured," Bilek said.
Goalkeeper Petr Cech, who won the Premier League title on Sunday with Chelsea, will join the national team after Saturday's FA Cup final against Portsmouth.
Hertha Berlin goalkeeper Jaroslav Drobny, Cech's backup, has a knee injury and also will miss the U.S. trip. Michal Danek from Czech club Plzen will replace Drobny.
The 22-man roster includes Anderlecht midfielder Jan Polak, who returns after recovering from a long-term knee injury.
Four of players picked have not played for the national team before: Dnipropetrovsk goalkeeper Jan Lastuvka, Anderlecht defender Ondrej Mazuch, Spartak Moscow defender Marek Suchy and Slavia Prague midfielder Milan Cerny.
At the 2006 World Cup in Germany, the Czechs outplayed the Americans 3-0 in the tournament opener for both teams. In 1990, then-Czechoslovakia routed the U.S. 5-1 in the Americans' return to the World Cup following a 40-year absence.
Goalkeepers: Petr Cech (Chelsea, England), Michal Danek (Plzen), Jan Lastuvka (Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine)
Defenders: Tomas Hubschman (Shakhtar Donetsk, Ukraine), David Limbersky (Plzen), Ondrej Mazuch (Anderlecht, Belgium), Ondrej Kusnir (Sparta Prague), Tomas Sivok (Besiktas, Turkey), Marek Suchy (Spartak Moscow, Russia)
Midfielders: Jaroslav Cerny (Slavia Prague), Milan Cerny (Slavia Prague), Mario Holek (Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine), Jan Moravek (Schalke, Germany), Jaroslav Plasil (Bordeaux, France), Jan Polak (Anderlecht, Belgium), Daniel Pudil (Genk, Belgium), Libor Sionko (Sparta Prague), Rudolf Skacel (Larissa, Greece)
Forwards: Martin Fenin (Eintracht Frankfurt, Germany), David Lafata (Liberec), Lukas Magera (Timisoara, Romania), Tomas Necid (CSKA Moscow, Russia)
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