Czechs play down Rosicky injury scare

22 May 2012 17:47

Czech Republic captain Tomas Rosicky will be back in shape in time to lead his side at Euro 2012, after picking up a leg injury in action with his club Arsenal, team doctor Petr Krejci said on Tuesday.

"He's suffering from a pulled muscle. There's swelling in the muscle and some bruising," Krejci was quoted as saying by the website isport.cz.

"The treatment is ongoing and he's having physical therapy. He'll be fine for the European championship," he added.

The 31-year-old midfielder -- who has scored 20 times in 85 games since his debut for the national side in 2000 - joined the squad on Tuesday at their training camp in Austria.

The knock means he is expected to follow a lighter programme than his team-mates for a few days.

As a precaution, Czech manager Michal Bilek has called up Viktoria Plzen's young midfielder Vladimir Darida.

"If towards the end of the week Tomas is still not 100 percent ready then Darida will be selected for the Euro, at the expense of an already selected player," Bilek said on Sunday.

Bilek is due to reveal his final team list in Prague on May 29, the final day allowed under European championship rules.

The Czechs are in Group A at the tournament and start off their campaign against Russia on June 8.

That will be followed by a June 12 clash with Euro 2004 champions Greece, who eliminated them in the 2004 semi-finals, before they round off their group fixtures against co-hosts Poland on June 16.

Before leaving for Poland they have two warm-up games, against Israel on May 26 in Hartberg, Austria, and against Hungary on June 1 in Prague.

Source: AFP