Juventus midfielder Pavel Nedved entered the Czech Republic's 18-man squad for next week's friendly against Serbia.

Czech international Pavel Nedved, pictured June 2006, has pledged his future to scandal-plagued Italian giants Juventus, vowing to stay with the club next season despite their relegation to Serie B. Photo: AFP/DDP/File/David Hecker

Nedved, who was considering retiring from international soccer after the team's first-round elimination from the World Cup in June, is now set to play his 91st match. Nedved, who turns 34 this month, came out of international retirement last year to help the Czechs qualify for the World Cup.

Coach Karel Bruckner also called up forward Roman Bednar, who scored twice to lead Hearts 2-1 over Celtic in the Scottish Premier League over the weekend, and defender Tomas Zapotocny of Czech champion Liberec for their first internationals.

Celtic's Jiri Jarosik and Salzburg's Karel Pitak, who has just one cap, are the other two players on the Czech roster for the friendly who did not make the World Cup.

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech, who underwent a shoulder surgery after the World Cup, missed out, while striker Milan Baros and midfielder Vladimir Smicer were not included due to injuries. Veteran midfielder Karel Poborsky was absent after retiring from international soccer after the World Cup.