Czechia vs Malta Prediction: Schick gearing up for another profitable Euros campaign

The Czech Republic's preparations for Euro 2024 intensify with a friendly against Malta on Friday afternoon (16:30) at Untersberg-Arena in Austria. Czechia ar hoping to go deep in this tournament after reaching the quarter-finals of Euro 2020 just three years ago.

Malta should make this a competitive test for them which they will welcome a week before the tournament begins. Below I have outlined my Czechia vs Malta prediction, including match odds and team news.

Czechia vs Malta Odds

Czechia are 1/8, or an 88.9% chance to win this match. Malta are valued at 18/1, giving them an implied probability of 5.3%. The draw can be backed at 7/1 (12.5%).

Both teams to score is on offer at 7/5 and over 2.5 goals is marketed at 4/9.

Team News

Czechia head coach Ivan Hasek has been in the role a few months and is gearing up to take charge of his first European Championship as a manager. After their last-eight finish last time, he has his work cut out for him to at least match that feat. Their chance of progressing from the group stage looks favourable as they are in a group with Portugal, Georgia and Turkey.

West Ham United pair Tomas Soucek and Vladimir Coufal are likely to start here and both will be seen as key figures for Czechia in Germany this summer. Patrik Schick is likely to lead the line with his 18 goals on the international stage, the most of any member in the squad.

He could be joined by his Bayer Leverkusen teammate Adam Hlozek in attack.

Malta's 36-year-old captain, Steve Borg, could be in line to make his 78th appearance for his country in Austria, and he could be joined in defence by a fellow veteran in Enrico Pepe.

Czechia to win 2-0 @ 5/1

Due to there not being much value on the generic markets, I've had a crack at guessing Friday's scoreline. I think Czechia to win 2-0 at 5/1 offers excellent value, particularly given that they will want to head into the Euros with winning momentum. They have another warm-up match after this, against North Macedonia in their homeland, but winning this one on neutral territory could serve them well for the upcoming tournament.

I'm expecting Hasek to name a competitive side for this one so some of Czechia's big hitters are bound to be on the field like Soucek and Schick. There is a lot of quality on offer in the Czech Republic's ranks, and while Malta should provide them with an interesting battle, I'm expecting Hasek's men to come out the victors and I think 2-0 is a fair margin for them to win by.

This will serve as a good workout for them but with the Euros a week away, the players and the staff will take care in the minutes they give to the players as they will not want to suffer any injuries to key personnel at this stage. This emphasises my thought process for a 2-0 scoreline here.

Patrik Schick first goalscorer @ 3/1

My other selection is for Schick to be the first goalscorer in this contest, for obvious reasons. No one in the Czech Republic squad has scored as many goals as him and he heads into the summer off the back of scoring 13 goals in 33 appearances for Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen.

Hasek will be hoping that Schick's confidence levels can help him have a similar impact as he did at the last Euros, in which he scored five goals in as many appearances, with his stunning goal from the halfway line against Scotland winning Goal of the Tournament.

I think the striker offers excellent value at 3/1 to open proceedings in Austria.

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