By advancing to the European Championship, coach Jan Suchopárek extended his engagement with the Czech twenty-one team at least until the end of the championship, which will take place next year from June 11 to 28 in Slovakia. He said this at a press conference after a 1-1 home draw with Belgium in the second leg of the play-offs. The European vice-champion from 1996 said that the journey of the “Livčat” to the third European championship in a row resembled a mountain bike race.
“If we hadn’t made it to the play-offs, I would have finished at the end of October. When we managed to make the play-offs, I still had a month to work with the team. If we hadn’t made it today, I would have finished at the end of November. When we made it, I said we would they could stay until the end of June,” declared the fifty-five-year-old Suchopárek, whose wards won 2:0 in Belgium on Friday. “Lion cubs” have been leading since August 2021, at last year’s European Championship, he was eliminated in the group with them.
The Czech youngsters advanced to the final tournament despite the fact that they did not start well in the qualifying group and advancing to the championship did not seem very realistic. “The day before yesterday we had a team building where we did pantomime and drew different sports to relieve ourselves. I found a piece of paper with a mountain bike race written on it. I said it reminded me of our qualification. We were down in the valley and gradually we climbed up. Most mountain bikes end on a straight line, but we still had to pedal uphill.” said Suchopárek.
IT’S THERE! The lion cubs are going to the EURO! pic.twitter.com/l6xxuJCtyk
— Czech national football team (@ceskarepre_cz) November 19, 2024
“Finally, after the victory in Belgium, the finish line was within reach, we saw it, but it was still far for us, because today’s match was very difficult. But we managed it, we are at the finish line, in the intermediate section. We already said to ourselves in the previous matches that it is the round of 16 for us. This is how the team approached it.” he meant the former player of Kladno, Dukla, Slavia or Strasbourg.
He highlighted the contribution of forward and captain Václav Sejek. “You could see that he was moved in the cabin, such a bull. That shows something, because he really is the soul of the team. Without him – although sometimes he is a hard stick, but so are we – we would not be able to cope with the heat, he drags the others down. He is needed to thank him in this way. But he is only one of several dozen players who passed the qualification. Each of the players brought something and we are happy that we are at the finish line.” said Suchopárek.
Czech luck and Belgian bad luck. The expertly played corner kick by Kryštof Daňek first licked the back of Jarne Steuckers and then stamped the face of Zeno Van Den Bosch. But it’s what’s in the goal that counts! pic.twitter.com/PaImr2sP2h
— CT sport (@sportCT) November 19, 2024
He enjoyed the celebrations in the cabin. “I like to sing, I also like to dance. But I always have some distance. Even though it didn’t look like it and of course there was nervousness, I was relatively calm today, I don’t know why. Even at 1:1 I had to calm the boys on the bench because emotions work, of course. But I believe in the team, because we have a really good character, but we like to work with that. I’m glad, that it fit and we managed it” said Suchopárek.
The names of the three opponents will be known by the Lions at the draw on December 3. Suchopárek does not decide where the matches will be played. “I have pretty good memories of Slovakia in general, I used to go to Prešov as a child. I’m really looking forward to going there, I have a lot of friends there. But we’ll go there for football, I’m looking forward to that even more. In July, I was at AC/DC at at the airport in Vajnor and that was great. At that moment it was my favorite place in Slovakia. One hundred thousand people, great atmosphere and we sang.” said Suchopárek.
Czech Republic’s Young Lions Roar into the EURO Championship!
Well, folks, it seems that Jan Suchopárek has extended his stay with his beloved Czech under-21 team and will be sticking around until at least the end of the eagerly anticipated European Championship next summer! And what a journey it has been! In a press conference following a nail-biting 1-1 draw with Belgium, Suchopárek described their trek to the championship like a mountain bike race. Yes, a mountain bike race. Because nothing screams “football” quite like lugging yourself uphill on two wheels!
Suchopárek, who somewhat resembles a cross between a lion tamer and the guy at the back of the class trying to keep everyone quiet, revealed that had they not made it to the play-offs, he would have been out the door faster than you can say “offside.” Talk about motivation—win or pack your bags, eh? So, when the boys pulled off a stellar 2-0 victory in Belgium last Friday, it was as if they pedaled their bikes right into the finish line of a very windy road!
Qualified? Let’s Celebrate!
We’re not talking about a smooth ride here; the Czechs didn’t start their qualifying journey all that brightly. Picture this: they’re down in the valley, struggling to keep their handlebars straight, and then suddenly it’s like they found a hidden turbo boost in Mario Kart. “The day before yesterday, we had a team-building exercise where we did pantomime and drew different sports,” Suchopárek joked, reminiscing about how mountain biking was a very apt metaphor for their bumpy qualification path. Move over Tour de France; we’ve got the Czech team cycle truth!
IT’S THERE! The lion cubs are going to the EURO! Follow the excitement!
The Emotional Rollercoaster 🎢
Now, here comes the real drama! According to Suchopárek, even as they neared the finish line, the heart-pounding tension was still tangible. “Finally,” he said, “after the victory in Belgium, the finish line was within reach, but it was still far for us because today’s match was very difficult.” Is that why coaches always look like they’ve just run a marathon? Because they probably have, emotionally speaking!
Let’s not forget the captain, Václav Sejek, who was more pumped than a kid on a sugar high after winning the last piece of cake. “You could see that he was moved in the cabin, such a bull,” Suchopárek said. It sounds like Sejek might be more than just the team’s captain; he could lead a charge into just about any situation… even if it means getting a bit too ‘hands-on’ during matches! But let’s give credit where it’s due; this guy knows how to rally his troops!
Czech luck and Belgian bad luck. The expertly played corner kick by Kryštof Daňek felt like a game of pinball! Check out the drama!
Something to Sing About 🎶
As celebrations erupted in the changing cabin, our dear Jan couldn’t resist sharing his love for a good sing-along. “I like to sing, I also like to dance…” he said, sounding suspiciously like a contestant on a Saturday night talent show. A coach who sings? Someone give him a record deal!
Looking Ahead 🎯
Now, the boys gear up for some real fun as they prepare for the draw on December 3. Suchopárek reminisced fondly about his childhood trips to Slovakia, stating he is “really looking forward to going there”. Well, Jan, let’s hope the football gods are ready for a show! And remember, they’re there for football…not just to reminisce over AC/DC concerts!
So, here’s to the “Lion Cubs” getting on their bikes one more time, climbing those hills, and showing the world what happens when the Czechs roar! Let’s hope they keep pedaling at full speed come June. Because remember, it’s not just the destination that matters; it’s the journey… and a few good laughs along the way!
By successfully reaching the European Championship, coach Jan Suchopárek has secured his position with the Czech under-21 national team at least until the end of the tournament slated for June 11 to 28 next year in Slovakia. This announcement was made during a press conference following a tense 1-1 draw against Belgium in the second leg of the playoff series. The former European vice-champion from 1996 eloquently compared the team’s journey to the championship to a challenging mountain bike race.
“If we hadn’t made it to the play-offs, I would have concluded my tenure at the end of October. However, upon securing a spot in the play-offs, I was granted an additional month to work intensively with the team. Had today not ended in our favor, my time would have finished in November. By making it through, I decided the team could continue working together until the end of June,” declared the fifty-five-year-old Suchopárek, reflecting on the pressures and pivotal moments of their qualifying rounds. His “Lion Cubs” secured a significant 2-0 victory over Belgium just days earlier, a crucial win that propelled them forward. Since taking the helm in August 2021, Suchopárek faced a challenging exit in the group stage of last year’s European Championship.
The Czech youngsters defied expectations and advanced to the final tournament despite a rocky start in their qualifying group, which initially cast doubt on their chances. “The day before yesterday we had a team-building session where we engaged in pantomime and acted out various sports to alleviate the pressure. I stumbled upon a piece of paper that mentioned a mountain bike race, and it resonated with our qualification journey. We found ourselves down in the valley, but gradually we began to climb back up. Unlike most mountain bike races that finish on a flat path, we found ourselves pedaling uphill,” recounted Suchopárek, illustrating the resilience of his team.
IT’S THERE! The lion cubs are going to the EURO! pic.twitter.com/l6xxuJCtyk
— Czech national football team (@ceskarepre_cz) November 19, 2024
“After the victorious match in Belgium, the finish line felt within our grasp; we could see it, though it still seemed distant because today’s match was incredibly challenging. We had already mentally prepared ourselves for the round of 16 during previous matches,” he emphasized, reminiscing about his own experiences as a former player for Kladno, Dukla, Slavia, and Strasbourg.
Suchopárek notably praised the impact of forward and team captain Václav Sejek. “You could feel the emotion he brought into the locker room, he exemplified the spirit of a bull. He truly represents the heart of our team. Even though he can be tough on occasion, he is essential in rallying our spirits, particularly under challenging conditions. His contribution deserves our gratitude, and while he is a key player, it’s important to recognize that every squad member played a vital role in our qualification. We are grateful for their efforts and proud to have reached this point,” stated Suchopárek.
Czech luck and Belgian bad luck. The expertly played corner kick by Kryštof Daňek first licked the back of Jarne Steuckers and then stamped the face of Zeno Van Den Bosch. But it’s what’s in the goal that counts! pic.twitter.com/PaImr2sP2h
— CT sport (@sportCT) November 19, 2024
“I revel in the celebrations within the locker room. I enjoy singing and dancing, but I maintain a certain distance. Although the atmosphere may not have conveyed it, I felt relatively calm during the match today. Even at the score of 1:1, I had to keep the boys on the bench composed since emotions were running high. I truly believe in this team; we possess a remarkable character, and it’s a joy to work with that. I’m elated that everything aligned, and we succeeded,” commented Suchopárek, reflecting on his team’s emotional journey.
The teams’ upcoming opponents will be revealed during the draw on December 3. While Suchopárek recognizes he does not have control over the match locations, he shared, “I have many fond memories of Slovakia. As a child, I would often visit Prešov, and I’m genuinely looking forward to returning. I have numerous friends there, and while our focus is on football, I’m equally excited about the experience. I attended an AC/DC concert at the airport in Vajnor this past July; it was an incredible experience. At that moment, it was my favorite spot in Slovakia, filled with a hundred thousand people, creating a fantastic atmosphere where we all sang along.” said Suchopárek, expressing his enthusiasm for returning to the country.
What are some common examples of bad luck in sports?
Bad luck. The expertly played corner kick by Kryštof Daňek felt like a game of pinball! Check out the drama!
— Sport ČT (@sportCT) November 19, 2024
With the youth national team set to compete in the European Championship, the excitement surrounding their journey has reached a fever pitch. Suchopárek’s leadership and the squad’s resilience have certainly cemented their status as contenders to watch. Fans and players alike are poised for a thrilling tournament that promises not just fierce competition but also unforgettable memories on and off the field.
Prepare for the EURO! 🌍⚽
The road to the EURO Championship will be a test of strength, strategy, and stamina. With Suchopárek at the helm, the Czech U21 team is ready to face whatever challenges lie ahead. As they prepare for the draw in December, one thing is certain: these young lions are hardened by experience and fired up for the chance to showcase their talent on a grand stage.
As we eagerly await the championship matches slated for June, fans can only hope that the Lion Cubs will continue to show their mettle, fuel their passion, and leave their mark in the tournament. Let’s gear up for a summer of thrilling football, chock-full of laughter, team spirit, and perhaps a few surprise sing-alongs along the way! Cheers to the journey ahead! 🎉🍻
Note: Keep an eye on the official Czech football team social media channels for updates, highlights, and behind-the-scenes content as they gear up for their glorious journey into the EURO Championship!
