Soccer-Czechs look to uncapped Sirl for Denmark friendly

PRAGUE, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Czech coach Karel Brueckner, his squad depleted by injuries and retirements, called up uncapped Zenit St Petersburg midfielder Radek Sirl on Tuesday for a friendly against Denmark next week.

Brueckner has been looking to fill the boots of midfielder Pavel Nedved, who retired after the World Cup finals in Germany over the summer.

Sirl plays in the same left sided position as the former European footballer of the year and Brueckner is hoping the 25-year-old may help Arsenal's Tomas Rosicky in the midfield. He also recalled Celtic midfielder Jiri Jarosik.

The Czechs are also missing injured Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech and Monaco striker Jan Koller.

Cech is still recovering from a head injury sustained during an English Premier League match against Reading, while Koller has torn a leg muscle. Sparta Prague goalkeeper Jaromir Blazek will likely start.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Jaromir Blazek (Sparta Prague), Marek Cech (Liberec)

Defenders: Zdenek Grygera (Ajax Amsterdam), Marek Jankulovski (AC Milan), Martin Jiranek, Radoslav Kovac (both Spartak Moscow), David Rozehnal (Paris St Germain), Tomas Ujfalusi (Fiorentina)

Midfielders: Tomas Galasek, Jan Polak (both Nuremberg), David Jarolim (Hamburg SV), Jiri Jarosik (Celtic), Jaroslav Plasil (Monaco), Tomas Rosicky (Arsenal), Radek Sirl (Zenit St Petersburg)

Strikers: Milan Baros (Aston Villa), Marek Heinz (St Etienne), David Lafata (Jablonec).

((Reporting by Dusan Bucanek, editing by Alan Baldwin, London Sports Desk; Reuters Messaging: dusan.bucanek.reuters.com@reuters.net, +420-2-2419-0477))

Keywords: SPORT SOCCER CZECH SQUAD