Czech midfielder Tomas Rosicky, middle, won't play at this summer's Euro 2008 due to injury. (JOE KLAMAR/AFP/Getty Images)Czech Republic national team captain Tomas Rosicky has ruled himself out of next month's Euro 2008 tournament because of a nagging knee injury.
Rosicky, who plays in the English Premiership with London-based club Arsenal, told reporters at a news conference Friday in Prague that he will undergo surgery on his injured left knee and won't recover in time for the June 7-29 tournament in Austria and Switzerland.
"I have no other option than to undergo the operation," Rosicky said, adding he was unsure how long it would take to recover. "The tendon is likely more damaged than it had seemed.… This is the worst period of my career."
Rosicky, 27, picked up the injury after being tackled in a Jan. 19 Premier League match against Fulham. He tried to play for Arsenal a week later, but had to be substituted in the first half of an FA Cup game against Newcastle United. He has not played since.
The loss of Rosicky is a big blow to the Czech team. Rosicky has 19 goals in 68 games for the national team, and is considered one of the team's best players and its inspirational leader.
The Czech Republic has been drawn into a difficult opening-round group at Euro — with co-hosts Switzerland, Turkey and Portugal in Group A — but Rosicky said his absence won't hurt the team's chances.
"I'm an optimist. I think that the Czech team will be successful at the championship even without me," he said. "I trust the team."
Without Rosicky, coach Karel Bruckner could try to tempt Pavel Nedved out of retirement. Nedved served as Czech captain before retiring from the national team after the 2006 World Cup.
"It is up to [Nedved] to make the decision," Rosicky said. "Nobody else but he has to say he's returning."
With files from Associated Press
