Czech Republic continue their preparation for Euro 2024 with a friendly against Armenia in Prague on Tuesday.
Ivan Hasek's reign started with a win over Norway last week, and the Czechs will look to build on that improvement after only narrowly sealing their place in Germany.
Match preview
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Friday's 2-1 win over Norway was a welcome start for Hasek in his second stint in charge of the Czech national team, 15 years on from his first.
Goals from David Zima and Antonin Barak saw Czechia turn the game around after Norway had taken an early lead, and an away win against a side involving both Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard was a big positive.
Hasek has come in to replace Jaroslav Silhavy, who resigned following their underwhelming Euro 2024 qualifying campaign where the Czechs only finished second behind Albania.
A win over Moldova in their final qualifier was required to seal their spot at the finals, as defeat would have seen the minnow overtake them into the final automatic spot.
Continuing a strong run of home form will be the order of the day here, as Czechia have only lost one home fixture since September 2020, which will set them in good stead ahead of June.
Armenia are a side who have caused them problems before though, as a 2-1 defeat at home to their upcoming opponents eventually saw them miss out on the playoffs for the 2014 World Cup.
The two also met in 2006 World Cup qualifying, and a friendly in 2016, with Czechia winning all other four encounters, with the most recent being a routine 3-0 victory.
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Armenia's underwhelming run of form continued with a 1-0 defeat at home to Kosovo last week, extended their winless run to seven games.
While not much was expected of the Havakakan in Euro 2024 qualifying, taking four points from trips to Wales and Turkey, and beating Latvia, put them in contention.
However, an inexplicable defeat away in Latvia followed, and was the start of a poor run of results, where their only positive was holding Wales to a 1-1 draw in Yerevan.
Oleksandr Petrakov's players are prone to severe lapses, as shown by some of their recent defeats - 6-0 in Germany, 9-0 in Norway, and 5-0 defeats at home to North Macedonia and Ukraine.
Despite shipping fewer goals in recent matches, Armenia are still struggling for goals and will hope to show some promising signs before an appetising Nations League group including Latvia, Faroe Island and North Macedonia.
Team News
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Patrik Schick is back in the Czech side after numerous injury setbacks, and the Bayer Leverkusen forward is in great form so should lead the line here.
One of his striking partners Jan Kuchta is not in the squad though, as his disciplinary breach with Jakub Brabec and Vladimir Coufal in November means they have all been left out.
Tomas Cvancara and Lukas Masopust are out with injury, while the likes of Martin Vitik, Vaclav Cerny and Alex Kral have all been dropped.
Armenia were hit with three late injury withdrawals, as Ugochukwu Iwu, Hovhannes Hambardzumyan and Nair Tiknizyan all pulled out before their clash with Kosovo.
Artak Dashyan and the experienced Taron Voskanyan are both also on the sidelines currently, while Tigran Barseghyan has been left out despite being one of the most high-profile Armenian players currently.
The visitors' front line has been greatly strengthened thanks to foreign-born nations opting to represent Armenia, as Lucas Zelarayan, Grant-Leon Ranos and Norberto Briasco are all set to start.
Czech Republic possible starting lineup:
Stanek; Doudera, Holes, Zima, Zeleny; Soucek, Krejci; Lingr, Barak, Hlozek; Schick
Armenia possible starting lineup:
Cancarevic; K Hovhannisyan, Andre Calisir, Haroyan, G Harutyunyan; H Harutyunyan, Bichakhchyan, Spertsyan; Briasco, Ranos, Zelarayan
We say: Czech Republic 4-0 Armenia
Armenia are prone to a heavy defeat, and if the Czechs can turn on the style they are capable of with plenty of attacking talent, this could be a very one-sided affair.
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Andrew Delaney
