Anderlecht midfielder Polak played twice for the Czech Republic in 1999 while still a teenager, but then spent five years in the wilderness before a move to German club Nurnberg coincided with a return to the national side.
He netted four goals in qualification to help the side reach the World Cup finals in Germany, but he had a tournament to forget as the Czechs crashed out in the group stage.
After two cameo substitute appearances, he was given a starting spot in the crunch clash with Italy and was sent off on the stroke of half-time.
The box-to-box midfielder left Germany for Belgium and Anderlecht the following year and, after featuring in nine qualifying matches for this tournament, will hope to have some better memories of his second stab at a major tournament.

Czech Republic