KUFSTEIN: The Czech Republic opened its final stage of preparations for the European Championship with a 6-0 victory over Malta on Friday.

Jaroslav Plasil put the Czechs 1-0 ahead with a long-range drive in the 15th minute. Striker Milan Skoda made it 2-0 six minutes later and defender Roman Hubnik increased the lead to 3-0 five minutes before halftime.

Substitute strikers David Lafata, Tomas Necid and Patrik Schick scored late in the second half.

Goalkeeper Petr Cech made a record 119th appearance for his country, while captain Tomas Rosicky returned to the squad for the first time since June.

The Czechs play Russia on June 1 in Austria and South Korea in Prague on June 5 ahead of Euro 2016, where they are in Group D with Croatia, Spain and Turkey.