FIFA World Cup™ Germany 2006 player's profile

The Czech Republic’s Tomáš Rosický is one of Europe's leading attacking midfielders.
The Borussia Dortmund playmaker is technically outstanding, has an unerring eye for a defence-splitting pass, and combines a menacing presence in front of goal with fleetness of foot and exceptional dribbling skills. The ‘Footballing Mozart’, as the Czech press like to dub their gifted schemer, is determined to make a name for himself on the global stage at the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™.

Rosický's talent may have been imprinted in his genes, as his father Jiri was a celebrated player in the former Czechoslovakia. The young Tomáš played for Kompresory Prague as a small boy, before switching to local giants Sparta at the age of eight. He made his professional debut as a 17-year-old, collecting a total of three Czech championship medals and making his senior international debut in February 2000.

His outstanding displays for Sparta and a number of impressive UEFA Champions League outings attracted the attention of Borussia Dortmund, and Rosický switched to the Bundesliga in the 2000/01 winter break. Borussia went on to win the German championship the following season, and also reached the UEFA Cup final where they lost narrowly against Feyenoord in Rotterdam.

His consistently fine form earned Rosický a second Czech Player of the Year accolade to go with his 2001 success, and for several seasons he was linked with an array of leading European clubs before opting to join Arsenal shortly before Germany 2006.

Rosický made two appearances at UEFA EURO 2000 in Belgium and the Netherlands and has been an automatic choice for the Czech Republic ever since, despite the disappointment of missing out on the 2002 FIFA World Cup finals. He shone at EURO 2004, masterminding the Czechs' path to the semi-finals, where their progress was abruptly halted by eventual European champions Greece.

Norway decider
His greatest success in national colours to date came in November 2005 when the Czechs, forced into the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifying play-offs after finishing runners-up to the Netherlands in their group, travelled to Oslo for the first meeting with Norway and came away with a 1-0 victory.

Rosický reported for the decisive return in Prague with an ankle injury, and was only passed fit to play with the kick-off looming. He went out and netted the only goal of the evening after 35 minutes to seal his nation's first appearance at a FIFA World Cup finals since independence in 1993.

A chorus of praise rang in the star's ears afterwards. "We weren't sure whether he'd be able to play, and now he's fired us to Germany. The lad is a walking miracle," coach Karel Bruckner enthused.

Rosický himself harbours lofty ambitions for his first FIFA World Cup finals campaign. "We've beaten everyone in Europe, but we've not yet come up against the South Americans, the likes of Argentina and Brazil. I'm excited at the prospect," he declared.

The form-book indicates a possible meeting with the reigning world champions in the round of 16, but Rosický is far from awed. "It would be a fantastic confrontation. We're capable of beating Brazil on our day." In that event, the ‘Footballing Mozart’ would be hailed as a true maestro.

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UEFA EURO 2004™ player's profile

A playmaker combining speed, creativity and technical ability, Tomáš Rosický has shown remarkable maturity and composure since bursting on to the European scene.

National team
Having starred for the Czech Republic’s youth teams, Rosický was fast-tracked from the Under-21s to the senior fold. He made his international debut against the Republic of Ireland in February 2000 and did enough in two further outings to earn a place in the final squad for UEFA EURO 2000™, where he played against the Netherlands and France. Subsequently became a fixture in the unsuccessful attempt to qualify for the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

UEFA EURO 2004™ qualifying
Rosický registered in the opening 2-0 victory against Moldova, surprisingly his only goal in qualifying. None the less, his all-round displays were superb and he missed just one match as the Czechs won Group 3 from the Netherlands.

Club
AC Sparta Praha knew they had unearthed a gem when the young playmaker established himself in the 1999/00 season, scoring five times in 24 games as the capital club won the Czech championship for a fourth successive season. Just 14 appearances later, however, Rosický elected to join BV Borussia Dortmund ahead of a host of suitors.

2001: A €13.3m capture in January that year, the Czech featured in 15 games as Dortmund finished third in the Bundesliga. Player and club were superb the following season as the Ruhr giants ended a six-year wait for the German title. Dortmund also reached the final of the UEFA Cup, where they lost a thriller 3-2 to Feyenoord.

2003/04: In July 2003 he signed a contract extension which would keep him at the Westfalenstadion until 2008. The campaign was a frustrating one, though, as Rosický broke an arm in late February, keeping him out for six weeks as Dortmund failed to qualify for European competition.

Did you know?
Rosický became the youngest winner of the Czech Footballer of the Year crown in 2001, an award he retained in 2002.

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BBC's UEFA EURO 2004 player's profile

Borussia Dortmund midfielder Tomáš Rosický has the potential to become truly world class.

Signed by the German giants for a then national record £8.5m fee in 2001, Rosický masterminded their Bundesliga win in his first full season.

He is yet to fully make his mark on the international stage after the country's failure to qualify for World Cup 2002.

Rosický missed just one match in his side's unbeaten Euro 2004 qualifying campaign and is a key figure.

Described in his home country as the "footballing Mozart", the diminutive player is a rare goalscorer but his strength lies in making passes other players would never even see.

Rosický's participation in Portgual seemed in doubt when he broke his arm in February but his recovery was quicker than expected and he enjoyed a good end to the season.

©bbc.co.uk 2004. All rights reserved.