Czech Republic coach Ivan Hasek has confirmed that Patrik Schick is a doubt for his side's Euro 2024 group-stage decider against Turkey (Live on RTÉ2/Player) with the 28-year-old in a race to recover from a calf injury sustained during the 1-1 draw with Georgia.
The Bayer Leverkusen striker, who was joint-top scorer at Euro 2020 with five goals, netted a second-half equaliser in Hamburg on Saturday to rescue the Czechs' first point of the tournament and keep them in contention for a last-16 berth.
To have a realistic hope of qualifying from Group F they will likely need a victory against Vincenzo Montella's team, who themselves know that a draw is all that will be necessary to progress.
With only one goal scored in their two games Hasek was left sweating on the fitness of his main goal threat.
"Patrik was under the care of doctors, physiotherapists and masseurs for two days, so he was not at training with us," he said. "The injury is getting better and we will see on matchday.
"We already had variants with Patrik and without Patrik before the tournament. He is of course our key player, one of the best scorers in Europe, but if he is not available then we have to replace him.
"The other players worked all the time to be ready. And I believe in them."
Turkey came under criticism from fans after they were beaten 3-0 by Portugal thanks to efforts from Bernardo Silva and Bruno Fernandes alongside a calamitous own goal from Samet Akaydin.
Boss Montella has urged fans to get behind the team and acknowledges that their fate is still in their own hands - a win against Czech Republic will see them through to the next round.
He added: "There will always be criticism, there will be fair criticism, personally I accept that but it gives me cause for thought.
"There is also unfair criticism and that entertains me and motivates me.
"We are united, we are very motivated and our fate is in our own hands and it comes down to us because we are not reliant on a result from another team.
"It's only our match that matters so we are focused on responding on the pitch as we have done over the past 10 months, I don't want to recall all the number of records we've managed to secure and what these players have done over the past 10 months - they (the fans) need to be supportive."
All eyes will be on Cristiano Ronaldo in the match against Georgia (Live on RTÉ News/Player) after selfie-hunting pitch invaders in Portugal’s last game raised security concerns and forced UEFA to introduce stricter measures to protect the players.
Portugal's 3-0 victory over Turkey was marred by at least six fans invading the pitch desperate to get photos with Ronaldo during and after the game in Dortmund on Saturday.
The result secured Portugal qualification for the last 16 as Group F winners while Georgia need a win to reach the knockout stages.
It is still unclear if Ronaldo will play on Wednesday as coach Roberto Martinez suggested he would rotate his squad.
However, the five-times Ballon D'Or winner is never keen on taking breaks, especially in major tournaments, as he is obsessed with breaking and extending his records which include most goals, appearances and assists for his country.
At 39, Ronaldo would become the oldest player to score in a European Championship if he nets at Euro 2024.
The Turkish are second on three points while Czech Republic and Georgia are bottom on one.
Willy Sagnol's Georgia have a mountain to climb against the Portuguese after a heartbreaking defeat by Turkey and a draw with Czech Republic.
One point was arguably a harsh return for a battling Georgia side who hit the post late against Turkey and missed a good chance to beat the Czechs with the last kick of the game.
They still could finish second and qualify if they beat Portugal and the Czechs overcome Turkey, but would be eliminated if they lose or draw and the Czechs avoid defeat.
Meanwhile, Sagnol said only he selects the national side, responding angrily when asked whether forward Budu Zivzivadze's playing time at Euro 2024 had been limited because of his reported criticism of a new law on foreign agents.
The national team's first major tournament appearance has created a buoyant mood in Georgia, where there have been huge protests against a controversial law requiring certain organisations to register as "agents of foreign influence".
Zivzivadze has played only six minutes at Euro 2024.
"I want to take proper decisions based only on football fact," said Frenchman Sagnol.
"I can't accept that any longer – I'm a football coach, nothing else. Who plays and who doesn't play, it is my entire decision, that's it," he added.
Sagnol believes his side are unfortunate to have only one point from their performances in the first two matches.
"If, before the competition, we would have been told maybe on your third match you will still have the possibility to qualify, I think we would all have signed these documents immediately," said Sagnol.
Georgia's talisman Khvicha Kvaratskhelia thinks his side might be able to take advantage of the fact Portugal were guaranteed to finish top of Group F.
"Of course, it will be a very tough game," he said. "But psychologically and motivation-wise, we are more motivated than Portugal because Portugal is already through to the round of 16."
Kvaratskhelia is hoping to fulfill a childhood dream of playing against Cristiano Ronaldo, but was adamant Georgia would not be over-awed.
"It doesn't really matter, the names or surname of football players," he said. "We are there to win and this is what we have demonstrated versus the Czech Republic and Turkey."
Additional reporting by PA
