Prague (AFP) – Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech set a new record for Czech caps on Friday in a Euro 2016 friendly against Malta in Austria.
The 34-year-old former Chelsea stopper won his 119th cap, surpassing the previous mark of 118 he shared with former Manchester United winger Karel Poborsky, who retired in 2006.
Cech earned his first senior cap in 2002 in a 2-0 win over Hungary, while later helping his country’s under-21 side to win the European Championships.
He is set to extend that record during the Euros in France starting next month as he is first choice under Czech coach Pavel Vrba.
It will be his fifth major international competition after the Euros of 2004, 2008 and 2012, and the 2006 World Cup.
“After the European Championships I’ll sit down to think about whether to continue with the national team or not,” said Cech recently.
“For the last 15 years I’ve been playing 60 matches a season and I’m feeling it.”
Cech has been named player of the year in the Czech Republic eight times while his club highlights include the 2012 Champions League with Chelsea, where he also won the 2013 Europa League and four Premier League titles.
