Czech Republic's chances of staging a smash and grab for the Euro 2008 trophy this summer have been hit by a massive blow after playmaker Tomas Rosicky ruled himself out with a knee injury.

The Arsenal midfielder has had a stop-start season with injuries and has been out since January with this current problem in an attempt to get it sorted before the big international showpiece in Austria and Switzerland.

The Czech captain will be sorely missed in creative areas and has been no stranger to scoring a few spectacular long range efforts himself in the past so will leave a massive gap in coach Karel Bruckner's plans. The Czechs face Switzerland, Portugal and Turkey in their Euro 2008 group with the tournament kicking off on the 7th June 2008.