The Czech Republic are looking to revive the glory days of the team that played as a united Czechoslovakia in the last century. They first competed in the FIVB World League for a single season in 2003, but did not fully return to the competition until 11 years later, when they joined Group 2 where they have played since. The year 2003 was their best appearance to date, as they made it through to the final phase in Madrid before losing to Italy 3-1 in the bronze medal game. Last year the Czech Republic narrowly missed a spot in the Group 2 finals, finishing fifth in the standings on a 5-4 record for a 19th place overall ranking.
Although as Czechoslovakia they amassed two gold and four silver medals at the FIVB World Championships in the 1950s and 1960s, the Czech Republic has not been on the podium of the competition since the breakup with Slovakia. Their best finish was 10th in 2010, though they failed to qualify for the 2014 edition. Czechoslovakia also took silver at the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo when volleyball made its Olympic debut and followed that with a bronze four years later in Mexico City.
At continental level, Czechoslovakia were crowned European champions three times in the late 1940s and 1950s.