For the Czech Republic, it was no shame to go out and swing against Denmark at Euro 2020.
They had already given us some of the best moments in the tournament so far, eliminating the Netherlands and going further than anyone expected.
It’s heartbreaking at the moment, but when the dust settles, Jaroslav Silhavy and his team will take huge positive results from a tournament that saw them advance in the eyes of the world. They are re-established as a dreaded tournament team, and the future looks really bright.
And in one way or another, it is a future that will be built around the 18-year-old sensation Adam Hlozek.
The prodigy Sparta in Prague did not quite make the impression that many had expected at Euro 2020, but the raised eyebrows at his omission from the squad against Denmark said almost everything.
Whether it was an unconfirmed injury or just a supervision from Silhavy, there was a real feeling that the Czechs could have made with their presence on the bench – a feeling that got stronger the longer the game lasted.
Hlozek, with 28 Sparta goals already to his name, had emerged as a sub in each of the Czechs’ Euro 2020 games to this point. He was one of the go-to guys when they were looking for goals against Croatia and England and impressed by his energy and direct drive in each of these cameo appearances.
• Adam Hlozek • Sparta Prague • Czech Republic • 18 years old
Leading scorer in his country’s top flight at the age of 18, despite being injured for five months of the season. ?
Welcome to Our 21, Adam Hložek ??
– 90min (@ 90min_Football) June 9, 2021
But while Silhavy could have made his ace in the package against Denmark, we should remember that he is only 18 – and that it is a minor miracle that he even went to the euro this summer.
When it was time to select the squad, Hlozek had exactly two matches to his name, his last coming almost a year earlier. He had had the domestic season from hell, full of injury and isolation periods, but still managed to score 15 goals to reach into Silhavy’s thinking.
He had been tipped to explode at Euro 2020 and it did not happen. But nothing about his involvement will have deterred his boss or discouraged the fierce interest in his signature from elsewhere in Europe.
? #WHUFC has increased its interest in teenage Czech striker Adam Hlozek. Bayern and Juventus are also monitoring, as is Dortmund, but the first team’s opportunities would be limited.
?? Soucek a good friend and they share the same agent @ 90min_Football https://t.co/Lifq4x3WR1
– Toby Cudworth (@Toby_Cudworth) April 17, 2021
90 minutes revealed earlier this year that West Ham are keen to make the kid their latest Czech acquisition, while Juventus, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund are all keen. News of Liverpool’s interest is less substantiated, but is still proof of the impact he has already made despite his tender age.
None of these clubs will have turned their heads away based on what they saw at Euro 2020, although it was more of a subtle hint of his potential rather than a lead role.
We were told at Euro 2020 that the future looks bright for the Czech Republic. And if this is what they can do with Hlozek reduced to a supporting role, the rest of Europe has something to fear when he reaches full speed on the international stage.
