CZECH REPUBLIC
Despite a very unexpected defeat in Greece, the Czechs easily qualified for the European Championships in Serbia, as second behind the team from Norway.
In Group B, the opposing team Germany know the Czech players really well, as the majority of the team earn their money in the German league such as goalkeeper Martin Galia whose star began to rise at the EHF EURO 2004 in Slovenia; defence hero Daniel Kubes and respectively Jicha.
Much, if not everything in the Czech Republic national team, revolves around just one player: Filip Jicha. If it is happening for the shooter in the back, it is happening for the Czech Republic.
The current World Handball Player of the Year is the most important goal scorer in the team of Coach Martin Liptak and at the EHF EURO 2010 in Austria he was voted the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament.
By ranking eighth two years ago, the Czech Republic gained their best result in international competition since 1996 when they ranked sixth. Having missed out on the past two editions of the World Championships in each case in the play-offs against Serbia, the goal of the Czech national team is to reach the Main Round.
GETTING TO SERBIA
The team from the Czech Republic were drawn into Group 6 for the Qualification. With eight points from six matches played, the Czech Republic finished second in the group behind Norway.
KEY PLAYERS
Daniel Kubes
Together with Jicha, Kubes forms the interior block of Czech national team – this is a role he performs with his fellow countryman in Germany for THW Kiel. Occasionally Kubes steps over the centre line and can be utilised in the offence as well as the back court positions. He began his career with Dukla Prag before moving to Sweden.
Filip Jicha
In 2004 he signed with N-Lübbecke and before moving to THW Kiel six years later, he also managed stints with Nordhorn and Lemgo where Kubes had two European Cup victories. Contrary to his appearances with his club, in the national team he frequently plays offence. Jicha has been playing in the national team for 12 years and is ranked as one of the best players of all time in the Czech Republic. Not only powerful and dynamic, but at full form Jicha is near unstoppable as he pushes past various defences and he guarantees the goal. In 2010 Jicha had the most successful season of his career: a top scorer accolade, a place on the All-Star Team, a national championship win and the EHF Champions League title and to cap it all, he was named player of the year. He has been playing for THW Kiel since 2007.
THE COACH - Martin Liptak
The 47-year-old Martin Liptak was born in Kosice; a born Slovakian is now the national coach for the neighbouring team from the Czech Republic. In 2008, he took over the Czech national team and successfully led them to the EHF EURO 2010 in Austria where they came eighth. As a player, Liptak earned 133 caps for the then Czechoslovakia; his greatest success as a player was ranking seventh at the World Championship in 1990. In 1998 and after many stations abroad, Liptak became a coach. To start, he led his home team from Kosice to the Slovakian national championship and two years later, he did the same with Sedovce. In his first period with Tatran Presov (2001 – 2003), he moved to the Czech Republic and Frydek-Mastek before returning once again to Slovakia. In this time, he led handball club Bystica to the championship title. This was great experience for him for when he returned to Tatran Presov in 2007. Currently, Liptak is not only the national team coach for the Czech Republic, he also coaches the Austrian club team champions A1 Bregenz, who are also playing in the VELUX EHF Champions League this season.
CZECH REPUBLIC IN ACTION
| Date | Time | Game |
|---|---|---|
| 15.01. | 17:30 | GER vs CZE |
| 17.01. | 20:15 | CZE vs SWE |
| 19.01. | 20:15 | CZE vs MKD |
PAST PERFORMANCE EHF EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP
| 1996 | Spain | 6th place |
| 1998 | Italy | 10th place |
| 2002 | Sweden | 8th place |
| 2004 | Slovenia | 11th place |
| 2008 | Norway | 14th place |
| 2010 | Austria | 8th place |
FURTHER INFORMATION
Czech Handball Federation Website: www.chf.cz
