The Czech Story
After a disastrous start, it looks like the Czech Republic flag won’t be appearing at the South African World Cup ceremony.
Even before the qualifying campaign, the Czechs were at a loss since Euro 2008. Jan Koller’s retirement meant that the eastern European side were already at a loss, losing their star man and also losing their direct style – the long balls they fed to the big man. They also were without their influential coach of 7 years. Karel Bruckner left to join Austria at the end of the European cup campaign. A long term injury to Tomas Rosicky also dealt the side a massive blow, leaving the squad with a few star individuals.
Czech Republic were given an easy looking group, no disrespect to the other teams, they looked favourites to proceed. Group 3 is where you’ll find the Czech alongside a progressing Northern Irish side, tough Slovakia and Slovenia sides, dangerous Poland and whipping boys San Marino.
The man to take charge was an inexperienced manager, the assistant to Karel Bruckner. He was in charge for FK Teplice a successful side in the nation on two separate occasions. He also made eleven appearances for the national side, during his playing career.
The country fans would have to rely key men, striker Milan Baros has got huge weight on his shoulders, captain Tomas Ujfalusi and the best keeper in world Petr Cech.
Going away to a tough Northern Ireland side posed problems for the away team, ranked eighth in the world rankings, the game was going to be difficult. Both sides had good chances to steal the game with Petr Cech denying the side, with Milan Baros and Libor Sionko forcing Maik Taylor into saves. The 0-0 result was a positive result.
The next round of fixtures saw the side travel to Poland, going down 2-1 to the poles. Pawel Brozek and Jakub Blaszcykowski gave them the lead, with Martin Fenin giving the Czechs a glimmer of hope with time running out.
Then Czech’s then travelled back home for their first home game of the season, at home against Slovenia in Teplice. This is where they gained their first 3 points of the campaign, with a Libor Sionko header putting them back on track.
Czech Republic then travelled to San Marino, the whipping boys did well to hold out in the first half but Radoslav Kodac quickly gave the visitors the lead after the break and Zdenek Pospech doubled the team’s advantage on 53 minutes. Substitute Tomas Necid bagged the third seven minutes from time.
Things went downhill from then, when they travelled to Maribor, Slovenia. A 0-0 draw was a sign of bad things to come when Slovakia travelled came to the stag city of Europe, Prague. A late goal from Erik Jendrisek gave Slovaks the 3 points to take home, Stanislav Sestak gave the visitors the lead while Marek Jankulovski levelled for the Czech’s. The Czechs created few chances in the first half but in the second half, the Slovak’s woodwork was being hit a countless number of times.
After 6 games the Czechs lay in fourth place with a real struggle on their hands, racking up 8 points, and 5 points behind the leaders Northern Ireland and Slovakia on 12 points with 2 games in hand on the leaders.
Controversy then surrounded the team, Petr Rada was sacked as coach of the team after a poor run of results. In addition, to the sacking expulsions were made within the squad. Milan Baros, Radoslav Kovac, Martin Fenin, Marek Matějovský, Vaclav Svěrkoš and also captain Tomas Ujfalusi were excluded through disciplinary reasons. Ujfalusi has retired his captaincy, with Petr Cech favourite to land the captaincy.
Let’s just hope performances improve, so that the Czech’s will be heading to the top of the Group 3 of the World Cup Qualifying Group.
