Vydra Czechs In For Euros

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Clarets' striker ready to build on a proud history after being named in tournament squad

2021-05-25T12:06:33.356Z

Vydra Czechs In For Euros

Clarets' striker ready to build on a proud history after being named in tournament squad

2021-05-25T12:06:33.356Z

Clarets' striker ready to build on a proud history after being named in tournament squad

Matej Vydra has been included in the Czech Republic squad for the finals of Euro 2020.

The Clarets’ striker has earned his place in his country’s 25-man squad for the delayed tournament following an impressive season at Turf Moor.

Vydra enjoyed his most productive season so far for Burnley, scoring six times in 34 appearances as he became a regular starter in the latter part of the campaign to help Sean Dyche’s side stay in the Premier League.

The 29-year-old – who triggered an extension to his contract to keep him with the Clarets until at least June, 2022 – will link up with the Czech squad at their tournament base in Scotland following a short break.

They play their first game in Group D against the Scots at Hampden Park on Monday, 14 June before facing Croatia at the same venue four days later.

The Czechs – winners of the tournament in 1976 – then face England in their final group game at Wembley on Tuesday, 22 June.

Below is an interview with Vydra from a March edition of ‘Turf’ – the Clarets’ matchday magazine – as he looked forward to a possible call-up and his hopes of prolonging his country’s proud record in the European Championships.

It was lacking only the virtual box of Ferrero Rocher when the Ambassador rang to offer an invitation to Matej Vydra, writes Pete Oliver

In one of the more interesting calls re-directed during lockdown, the London Embassy of the Czech Republic phoned the club’s media department in an effort to get in touch with Vydra.

As one of his country’s flag-bearers and high achievers on the sporting stage, the Clarets’ striker was understandably on the would-be contact list of Ambassador Libor Secka in his desire to touch base with his UK-based countrymen.

And message duly delivered, the channels of communication are now open.

“This is for the first time. I don’t why now, but it’s nice if someone from the Embassy of the Czech Republic is interested in what I’m doing,” said Vydra.

“I just e-mailed his office and he e-mailed me back. I need to send him some more details.”

As one of three current Czech internationals playing in the Premier League (along with the West Ham duo of Tomas Soucek and Vladimir Coufal) Vydra is naturally held in high regard by his country’s leading officials.

And with the Czech Republic based in the UK for this year’s delayed Euro 2020 tournament, the desire to forge a united front is even more obvious.

The Czechs have a proud record in the competition – winning the 1976 version thanks to the famous Antonin Panenka penalty and now having qualified for the seventh successive time since the format expanded to include 16 teams in 1996 when they finished as runners-up.

And with Vydra highly likely to be involved for the first time this summer, it’s a proud history he’s hoping to enhance in what will be one of the first major international events to be staged since the worst of the pandemic.

“Fingers crossed it’s going to happen in the summer. I’ve never been in a big tournament like that so I’m looking forward to it and hopefully I will be in the squad,” said Vydra, whose appetite is further whetted by the draw for Group D which sees the Czech Republic drawn alongside Croatia, Scotland and England – with the two home nations acting as host countries.

“I don’t know what ranking Engand are but that will always be a big game.

“Wembley is one of the nicest stadiums in the world, although if there wasn’t a crowd it would be a sad day for everyone.

“I saw something about fans coming back for the last one or two rounds of the Premier League so, fingers crossed, it will be for the Euros as well.

“We played Scotland in the Nations League and they beat us twice, so that will be interesting for us because we can’t lose for a third time.

“The World Cup hasn’t been so good for us, but in the Euros we have been there a lot and it’s huge for us because we aren’t a big country.

“It’s big for us and I think everyone wants to win again. It’s so hard right now against England, Spain and some of the others but in football - and this time with Covid - you never know what can happen.”

Before the Euros, the Czechs begin their campaign to try and reach a first World Cup Finals since the 2006 tournament in Germany with qualifiers against Estonia, Belgium and Wales later this month.

Their squad in 2006 included some heavyweight names, as it did at the European Championships in 1996 and in 2004 when Vydra watched from afar as his heroes reached the semi-finals before losing to shock winners Greece.

“From the Czech Republic so many achieved big things, like Pavel Nedved, Patrick Berger and Milan Baros as a striker,” added Vydra, who has scored six goals in 35 appearances for his country.

“All the time when we were growing up, we were looking at big tournaments, like the Euros that are coming.

“In 2004 I think I was in Slovakia playing in a tournament for a few days and Czech Republic was playing against Holland. They were winning 2-0 and we changed the game for 3-2.

“All these memories are special for Czech football.”

The Czech’s second and third goals in that famous win against the Netherlands were both scored by Liverpool players – Baros and Vladimir Smicer.

Vydra has followed such trail-blazers in making his way to the Premier League, even if his early idol played his football for France and the super powers of mainland Europe.

“When I was growing up I was always looking up to Zinedine Zidane because I was wearing the white jersey of Real Madrid,” revealed the 29-year-old.

“It’s quite funny because he’s a midfielder and I’m a striker.

“My target growing up was to play for Real Madrid - which to be fair is not impossible right now!”

As well as a nice line in self-deprecation, Vydra has also shown the necessary drive and dedication to progress from his childhood in the small town of Chotebor to make it to the top tier of English football with Burnley via Italy, Belgium, West Bromwich Albion, Reading, Watford and Derby County.

“Nice that some guy played in the Premier League from a small city like I am,” said Vydra, who grew up less than 10 miles from the home town of West Ham midfielder Soucek and is now doing what he can to help the Clarets get the points they need to get over the line and maintain their on-going place in the Premier League alongside the high-flying Hammers.

“Of course, the Premier League is the best league in the world and you call me a lucky person to come from a small city in the Czech Republic to be a player in it.

“That’s thanks to my parents who supported me all the time, which wasn’t easy with a kid like me because I wasn’t the nicest guy!

“I was always looking all the time to play football. They were saying ‘you don’t know what happens in the future, so you have to finish your school’ and all these things.

“But I had all the time in front of my eyes just football.”

It turns out it wasn’t a bad decision. And no doubt Vydra’s parents would approve now the Ambassador has come calling.

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