Czech aerial threat: Schick, Krejci pose towering danger for Korea

South Korea will need to neutralize Czech Republic's dominance in the air to get past their Group A opener at the 2026 North America World Cup.

Czech Republic is making its first World Cup appearance in 20 years and has struggled to make a mark at recent European Championships, but the team is far from one Korea can take lightly. The presence of towering big-league players — several standing above 190 centimeters — on both ends of the pitch is something Korea must prepare for carefully.

The two most dangerous are striker Patrik Schick, 30, of Bayer Leverkusen in Germany's Bundesliga, and Ladislav Krejci, 27, who plays alongside Korea forward Hwang Hee-chan at Wolverhampton Wanderers in England.

Schick is likely to lead the Czech attack when the two sides meet Friday morning in Guadalajara in the Group A opener of the 2026 North America World Cup.

Standing 191 centimeters tall, Schick is a threat in the air and must be watched on crosses and headers, while his left foot makes him equally dangerous from distance — placing him at the top of Korea's watch list. He warmed up for the Korea match by scoring against Guatemala in a final tune-up game Thursday in Harrison, New Jersey.

Schick has represented the Czech senior national team since 2016, scoring 26 goals in 53 appearances — fourth all-time in Czech history and the most among active players.

He previously played for Sampdoria and AS Roma in Italy before joining Leverkusen in 2020, where he established himself as one of Europe's most clinical strikers. In the 2021-2022 Bundesliga season he scored 24 goals, finishing second behind Robert Lewandowski, then of Bayern Munich. He netted 21 goals in the 2024-2025 season and finished fourth in the Bundesliga scoring charts with 16 goals in the recently concluded 2025-2026 season.

Krejci fills one of the three central-defender roles in Czech Republic's preferred back-three system and also stands 191 centimeters. Capable of playing in midfield as well, he is regarded as a well-rounded player with pace and the ability to deliver long passes. After spells in the Czech league and at Girona in Spain, Krejci has been on loan at Wolverhampton since last year, where he has built a close friendship with Hwang.

Speaking to reporters at the national team's training ground in Zapopan, Mexico, on Tuesday, Hwang described Krejci as "one of my closest friends at the club — we eat together and talk a lot," adding that he is "one of the players we need to watch out for."

Krejci has worn the captain's armband for Czech Republic since the European playoff in March, when the team secured their World Cup berth. Around the middle of the squad in terms of age, he has taken on a leadership role both on and off the pitch.