PRAGUE (AP) — Sparta Prague teenager Adam Hlozek was named to the Czech Republic's squad for the European Championship.
The 18-year-old forward is the youngest player on the team announced by coach Jaroslav Silhavy on Tuesday.
Hlozek missed several games in the Czech league this season due to an injury but still scored 11 goals and set up another seven in his 18 appearances. He also became the youngest player to score a hat trick in the competition.
"He's been on the right track," Silhavy said about Hlozek, who can be used as a striker or on the wing. "He certainly has a chance to make the starting lineup."
The squad is spearheaded by a pair of West Ham players, midfielder Tomas Soucek and defender Vladimir Coufal, who helped their club finish sixth in the Premier League and qualify for the Europa League.
But former captain, Sparta Prague playmaker Borek Dockal, was dropped.
"That was the toughest decision," Silhavy said.
Dockal is still in a group of 17 reserve players who could step up in case of injuries or a positive coronavirus test ahead of the tournament, which opens on June 11.
Silhavy announced a list of 25 players, one less than the number allowed by UEFA.
The final place is meant for defender Ondrej Kudela, who is appealing his 10-match ban from UEFA for racially abusing a Black opponent in a Europa League match. It prevents the 34-year-old Kudela from playing at Euro 2020.
An appeal hearing is scheduled for Wednesday. If he doesn't succeed, he still can challenge the ban at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
"There's still hope," Silhavy said. "In the case of (Kudela), it's worth exploiting all possible options."
The Czechs begin their Euro 2020 campaign on June 14 against Scotland in Glasgow. It's the same city that Kudela was found to have racially abused Rangers midfielder Glen Kamara on March 18.
They face Croatia four days later, also at Hampden Park, before finishing Group D play against England at Wembley Stadium on June 22.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Tomas Vaclík (Sevilla), Jiri Pavlenka (Werder Bremen), Ales Mandous (Olomouc)
Defenders: Jan Boril (Slavia Prague), Jakub Brabec (Viktoria Plzen), Vladimir Coufal (West Ham), Ondrej Celustka (Sparta Prague), Pavel Kaderabek (Hoffenheim), Tomas Kalas (Bristol City), Ales Mateju (Brescia), David Zima (Slavia Prague)
Midfielders: Antonin Barak (Hellas Verona), Vladimir Darida (Hertha Berlin), Adam Hlozek (Sparta Prague), Tomas Holes (Slavia Prague), Jakub Jankto (Sampdoria), Alex Kral (Spartak Moscow), Lukas Masopust (Slavia Prague), Jakub Pesek (Slovan Liberec), Tomas Soucek (West Ham), Petr Sevcik (Slavia Prague)
Forwards: Michael Krmencík (Club Brugge), Tomas Pekhart (Legia Warsaw), Patrik Schick (Bayer Leverkusen), Matej Vydra (Burnley)
