Czech Football Fiasco: A Match to Remember (or Forget)
Well, ladies and gentlemen, it appears Hašek’s men have taken their drab performance into a whole new league! Not the elite Division A kind of league, mind you — the kind of league where you start with a nice 2:0 win against Albania and then follow it up with a 2:2 draw against Ukraine, proving that consistency is not their strong suit. If this team had a motto, it might simply be “We’ll take a draw and leave you wanting more — or less!”
The Match Recap
This match, played in the not-so-neutral grounds of Wroclaw (because who wouldn’t want to take their football to a place that sounds like the noise a car might make while dying on the motorway?), saw the Czech Republic and Ukraine go head-to-head. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t the fantastic game you were hoping for, but hey, neither is a trip to the dentist!
The Czech team made a single change to their lineup, introducing Krejčí after a mini-holiday due to yellow card punishment. I mean, talk about easing your way back into work! Meanwhile, the Ukrainians threw in a change of their own, clearly hoping Stepanenko would sprinkle some magic dust after recovering from injury. Unfortunately, the spells didn’t quite work — the match felt more like a fairy tale gone wrong.
A Crowd Like No Other
And speaking of a fairytale, let’s talk about attendance! With a stadium capacity of 45,000, about half was filled with vibrant Ukrainians while only a few hundred Czech fans made the trek. I mean, were they actually playing for pride or just on a random team-building exercise in Wroclaw? One could only imagine the Czech supporters shouting, “Come on lads, it’s only a friendly — why not take it easy?”
That Match Momentum
The Czech team opened with intention — which is about as rare as becoming famous for reading books — but alas, the opportunities were foiled like a ‘B’ movie plot. They sniffed the lead first, only for it to rush past them like a bus they weren’t quick enough to catch. Červ scored with a volley that would make your Sunday league player cry tears of envy! But then came that disallowed goal at the end of the half — one can only imagine the collective groan echoing through the Czech Republic like a sad saxophone solo.
The Penalty Incident
Things went from bad to worse when a penalty was given for a handball—Krejčí, the likely culprit—sending the Czech fans into conniptions. Dovbyk converted it effortlessly; I mean, if only all of life’s problems were solved as easily as a penalty kick! Who knew a match could turn on such a technicality? Keep your hands to yourselves, boys!
Missed Opportunities Galore
The second half rolled on like a comedy show without punchlines; Chorý couldn’t convert a header, and Kliment re-entered the scene after a seven-year absence, only to give a close-range shot the same affection you’d typically reserve for a dodgy kebab. The final score left you wondering if anyone bothered to shoot on target! Clutching your seat again, Czechs, savor that sweet taste of mediocrity.
Conclusion: The Silver Lining
So, what did we learn from this escapade of football? Well, one cannot deny that at least the Czech team is very consistent. Consistently unremarkable, perhaps, but consistency nonetheless! As they head into future challenges, let’s hope they remember how to keep a lead, avoid unnecessary handballs, and perhaps gain a few cheerleaders along the way. Because boys, sometimes it’s not just about the game; it’s about the fans — and maybe those who stayed home were doing the right thing after all.
At the end of the day, it’s just football. But if they could throw in a few more goals, it wouldn’t go amiss!
Hašek’s men did not follow up on Friday’s 2:0 home victory over Albania, and they failed to beat Ukraine for the second time after the 3:2 home triumph in September, but they did not lose for the third time in a row in the group.
The winner of the group will advance directly to the elite division A, the second team will have a double playoff match. At the same time, the League of Nations gives national teams an additional chance to play for participation in top tournaments. The fourth year is linked to the fight for the World Cup in 2026. The four best teams that fail in the classic qualification will go to the play-offs for the championship.
Hašek made the only change in the starting line-up compared to Friday’s match with Albania. Defender Krejčí returned to the starting eleven after the yellow card punishment expired, instead of Holeš, who was not even among the substitutes due to minor health problems.
The Ukrainians also started in comparison to Friday’s winning duel against Georgia with only one change in the lineup, Stepanenko stepped in after an injury. Talovjerov, a former player of Slavia, České Budějovice, Liberec and Spartan reserves, got another chance in the stopper pair.
A fairly large number of fans arrived to support the Ukrainians on neutral ground in Wroclaw, the stadium for 45,000 spectators was about half full. Only a few hundred supporters came for the Czech team.
For the third time in a row, the Czech team started with four defenders and, just like against Albania, they started very actively, but the Ukrainians had the first big chance. Mudryk ran down the left side and set up a good opportunity for Šaparenko, who shot over. On the opposite side, in the 10th minute, after Coufal’s tap-in, Šulc fired, but goalkeeper Trubin made the save twice.
In the next eight minutes, Haška’s team was already in the lead. After a corner kick, Červ leaned into the deflected ball just behind the goal from a volley and fired it right to the post. Pilsen’s more defensive midfielder scored his first goal for the national team in the fourth game. Just before the goal, Huculjak collided with Souček in the penalty area and, visibly shaken, had to be replaced after a long treatment.
In the 34th minute, the active Černý shot over the bar, and moments later, the author of the first goal, Červ, headed wide. On the opposite side, Dovbyk himself finished from offside in front of the goalkeeper Kovář, then Souček allowed himself to be pushed in the goal, but Mudryk, another of the Ukrainian stars, fired just past the goalkeeper. At the end of the second minute of regulation in the first half, Choré’s attempt was pulled by Trubin only to the oncoming Vitík, but the shot was disallowed due to offside.
Five minutes after the change of sides, the Spanish referee Cuadra ordered a penalty for Krejčí’s hand in the goal, much to the chagrin of the Czech team, which AS Řím Dovbyk easily converted. Hašek’s men did not keep a clean sheet for the tenth time out of 11 games this year.
In the 67th minute, after Červ’s center in a tight spot, Chorý headed wide and did not follow up on the two goals from Friday’s duel with Albania. 10 minutes later, substitute Kliment, who returned to the national team after seven years, did not beat Trubin from close range, but apparently was still in close offside.
On the opposite side, Kovář struggled to clear Zubkov’s free kick attempt from distance. In the hectic end, no more goals were scored, and even after the seventh mutual duel, the teams have an even balance of two wins and defeats and three draws.
