The Czechs have a decent record in recent tournaments, having reached the final in 1996 and the last four in 2004.

But a host of key players, such as retired duo Pavel Nedved and Vladimir Smicer and injured current skipper Tomas Rosicky, are not in the squad for this year's competition and many believe the 23-man group has not got the depth it had in previous championships.

But ahead of the tournament curtain-raiser against co-hosts Switzerland in Basle on Saturday, Ujfalusi believes the current breed of Czech stars can make their country proud.

"In 2004, we played football of the highest level but we didn't make it to the final," said the rugged centre-back, who was part of the Czech team which lost 1-0 to eventual tournament winners Greece in the semi-final in Portugal four years ago.

"Some people have finished playing since then, great players like Smicer, (Vratislav) Lokvenc and Nedved.

"It was difficult for the coach to find adequate replacements but we coped and in the qualifying phase, we finished first (ahead of Germany).

"But I guess we will only be able to assess this when the championships are over. We will see."

The Czechs are considered dark horses this time round and are expected to be battling it out with the Swiss and Greece for second place in Group A, behind pool favourites Portugal.

Bruckner's side have always boasted a powerful-looking midfield, but with Nedved and Smicer retired, Rosicky out injured and ageing anchorman Tomas Galasek on his last legs, that could now prove to be the weakest department of the team.

Rosicky, the Arsenal star and his country's totem, will especially be missed.

"Of course, we are all sad that Tomas can't participate," added Ujfalusi, who will play for Atletico Madrid next season.

"But he ranks among our biggest supporters and we have had a lot of opportunities to talk to him.

"He is keeping his fingers crossed for us."

Bruckner, whose six-and-a-half-year tenure as coach will come to an end after the tournament, will be without Zdenek Pospech (flu) against Switzerland but he was unlikely to have ousted Zdenek Grygera at right-back anyway.

The strike partnership of Milan Baros - the competition's top scorer in Euro 2004 with five goals - and giant targetman Jan Koller should again be used by Bruckner, whose team have beaten Scotland and Lithuania in warm-up matches.

mfl