SLAVIA PRAGUE
Czech League runners-up
Champions League pedigree: Debut appearance in competition
THE LOWDOWN:
After failing five times in the qualifying round, Slavia have finally made it to the Champions League, clinching their spot with shock home and away victories over Ajax. Not bad for a team made up of raw youngsters, old hands in their twilight years and the odd low profile import.
Even more remarkably, Slavia achieved it without their two best midfielders from last season - the Slovak Dusan Svento is out for six months with a serious knee injury, while skipper Lukas Jarolim left for Italian outfit Siena.
To back up their optimism that they can make a good fist of this competition, Slavia players and officials like to point to the 1995/96 season when they managed to reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup against all the odds, beating Italian giants Roma along the way.
THE TECHNICAL AREA:
Slavia have a long tradition of employing an inventive short-passing game and though coach Karel Jarolim has been at pains to maintain the style content since being appointed in 2005, he has been busy in grafting a 'they shall not pass' attitude. He usually goes with a 4-4-2 formation, though a one-striker option may well be used on perilous-looking away days.
A former Czech international midfielder, Jarolim is in his second spell as Slavia boss and has also worked at FC Slovacko and at French club Strasbourg, where he was the number two to Ivan Hasek. His sons Lukas and Davis are both current professionals at Siena and Hamburg.
THE WOW FACTOR:
Despite the recruitment of ten new players this summer, Slavia are certainly not lacking in togetherness, with everyone prepared to go that extra mile for a team mate.
Young guns such as central defender Marek Suchy and attacking midfielder Petr Janda, both of whom starred in the Czech Republic's surprise second-place finish at this year's under-20 World Cup, have impressed. A number of top European sides are reported to be following Suchy's progress closely, while Janda's long-striding runs form a vital part of the team's counter-attacking strategy.
The opportunism of striker Stanislav Vlcek, who scored both goals in the 2-1 victory over Ajax in the second-leg of the qualifiers is also crucial to them. He joined the club in 2004 after stints at Bohemians Prague, Olomouc, Ceske Budejovice and Dinamo Moscow.
THE BIG BUY:
Eleven years after leaving Slavia for Lens in France, veteran midfielder Vladimir Smicer is back in the famous red and white halved shirt and hopes that his return to the Czech League will rekindle his national team aspirations. Capped 81 times, he has not played representative football since a World Cup play-off against Norway in November 2005.
Besides two tours of duty with Slavia, he has also turned out for Bordeaux and Liverpool, for whom he scored a memorable long-range goal in the comeback against AC Milan in the 2005 Champions League Final.
THE TENDER SPOT:
Smicer himself. Although he is sure to be a influential dressing room presence, has great creative ability and can play in a variety of positions in the middle of the park, the fact remains that he has always been plagued by injuries.
The general lack of Champions League know-how in the camp is also a worry. There is no substitute for it. For example, new French midfielder Mickael Tavares has talent, but experience of the Gallic Second Division with Tours will not cut much ice at this infinitely higher level.
In addition, they are too reliant on Vlcek up front. Other forwards such as the Slovak Milan Ivana, the Brazilian Gaucho and Zdenek Senkerik all have their faults. Left-back Frantisek Drizdal has his limitations too.
HOT GOSSIP:
Slavia looked ready to hit the panic button when first-choice keeper Michal Vorel badly injured his knee in pre-season, but they need not have worried. His replacement, the 36-year-old Martin Vaniak - who arrived from SIAD Most - has proved a lifesaver especially when saving a penalty in the first-leg with Ajax.
Smicer has been promised a management role here when he eventually retires from the game.
IDEAL LINE UP:
Varnik, Drizdal, Brabec, Suchy, Krajcik, Kalivoda, Tavares, Smicer, Janda, Vlcek, Senkerik
THE VERDICT:
They have no chance of progress, but at least they can lord it over local rivals Sparta, who did not qualify this time.
Czech League runners-up
Champions League pedigree: Debut appearance in competition
THE LOWDOWN:
After failing five times in the qualifying round, Slavia have finally made it to the Champions League, clinching their spot with shock home and away victories over Ajax. Not bad for a team made up of raw youngsters, old hands in their twilight years and the odd low profile import.
Even more remarkably, Slavia achieved it without their two best midfielders from last season - the Slovak Dusan Svento is out for six months with a serious knee injury, while skipper Lukas Jarolim left for Italian outfit Siena.
To back up their optimism that they can make a good fist of this competition, Slavia players and officials like to point to the 1995/96 season when they managed to reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup against all the odds, beating Italian giants Roma along the way.
THE TECHNICAL AREA:
Slavia have a long tradition of employing an inventive short-passing game and though coach Karel Jarolim has been at pains to maintain the style content since being appointed in 2005, he has been busy in grafting a 'they shall not pass' attitude. He usually goes with a 4-4-2 formation, though a one-striker option may well be used on perilous-looking away days.
A former Czech international midfielder, Jarolim is in his second spell as Slavia boss and has also worked at FC Slovacko and at French club Strasbourg, where he was the number two to Ivan Hasek. His sons Lukas and Davis are both current professionals at Siena and Hamburg.
THE WOW FACTOR:
Despite the recruitment of ten new players this summer, Slavia are certainly not lacking in togetherness, with everyone prepared to go that extra mile for a team mate.
Young guns such as central defender Marek Suchy and attacking midfielder Petr Janda, both of whom starred in the Czech Republic's surprise second-place finish at this year's under-20 World Cup, have impressed. A number of top European sides are reported to be following Suchy's progress closely, while Janda's long-striding runs form a vital part of the team's counter-attacking strategy.
The opportunism of striker Stanislav Vlcek, who scored both goals in the 2-1 victory over Ajax in the second-leg of the qualifiers is also crucial to them. He joined the club in 2004 after stints at Bohemians Prague, Olomouc, Ceske Budejovice and Dinamo Moscow.
THE BIG BUY:
Eleven years after leaving Slavia for Lens in France, veteran midfielder Vladimir Smicer is back in the famous red and white halved shirt and hopes that his return to the Czech League will rekindle his national team aspirations. Capped 81 times, he has not played representative football since a World Cup play-off against Norway in November 2005.
Besides two tours of duty with Slavia, he has also turned out for Bordeaux and Liverpool, for whom he scored a memorable long-range goal in the comeback against AC Milan in the 2005 Champions League Final.
THE TENDER SPOT:
Smicer himself. Although he is sure to be a influential dressing room presence, has great creative ability and can play in a variety of positions in the middle of the park, the fact remains that he has always been plagued by injuries.
The general lack of Champions League know-how in the camp is also a worry. There is no substitute for it. For example, new French midfielder Mickael Tavares has talent, but experience of the Gallic Second Division with Tours will not cut much ice at this infinitely higher level.
In addition, they are too reliant on Vlcek up front. Other forwards such as the Slovak Milan Ivana, the Brazilian Gaucho and Zdenek Senkerik all have their faults. Left-back Frantisek Drizdal has his limitations too.
HOT GOSSIP:
Slavia looked ready to hit the panic button when first-choice keeper Michal Vorel badly injured his knee in pre-season, but they need not have worried. His replacement, the 36-year-old Martin Vaniak - who arrived from SIAD Most - has proved a lifesaver especially when saving a penalty in the first-leg with Ajax.
Smicer has been promised a management role here when he eventually retires from the game.
IDEAL LINE UP:
Varnik, Drizdal, Brabec, Suchy, Krajcik, Kalivoda, Tavares, Smicer, Janda, Vlcek, Senkerik
THE VERDICT:
They have no chance of progress, but at least they can lord it over local rivals Sparta, who did not qualify this time.
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