Czech national team advances past Ireland to the play-off…

Czech national team advances past Ireland to the play-off final, Krejčí shines as captain

27.03.2026 11:18 HotInfo

The Czech national football team dramatically beat Ireland 3:2 on penalties in the semifinal of the play-off for the 2026 World Cup and advanced to the final match against Denmark. The match was played in a tense atmosphere, as the Czechs equalized the opponent's two-goal lead when captain Ladislav Krejčí first won a penalty for Patrik Schick in the first half and then, four minutes before the end of regulation time, headed in the equalizer to make it 2:2, sending the match into extra time. After a draw, a penalty shootout followed, in which Tomáš Souček converted his penalty and secured the Czech Republic's advancement. denik.cz ↗ irozhlas.cz ↗

Krejčí, in the captain's role for the first time, proved himself an important player for the team. After the match, he expressed joy at advancing and admitted that the team had been rewarded for its performance and dedication. Coach Miroslav Koubek characterized the match as a war, praising his players' fighting spirit and determination. Substitute Souček, who only came onto the pitch in the decisive phase of the match, reminded everyone of his value with his contribution. After the match, he stated that the captain's armband could be taken from him, but not his heart. According to his comments, the change of captain had more of a political undertone. zpravy.aktualne.cz ↗ idnes.cz ↗

The final match against Denmark now represents the last obstacle to qualifying for the World Cup. The Czech national team thus continues its fight to participate in one of the biggest football tournaments. sport.cz - fotbal ↗

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