The year before last, the group stage of the U21 European Championship was played in Slovenia and Hungary without spectators, it was the laced covid era. And this year’s championship in Georgia and Romania was the last straw for Czech fans. Neighboring Slovakia will host the next EURO in the summer of 2025, which is good news: you can get there in a few hours, and you can also negotiate easily.
But will the fear of European talents also affect the Czech Republic?
The situation after two qualifying matches out of eight is extremely unpleasant for coach Jan Suchopárek’s team. In September, the Czechs did not manage the prologue in Iceland (1:2) and did not even achieve victory in the first home match against Wales. With one point, they are second to last in the group and the new group, which is only together for the second time, is coming under more and more pressure. Including the coach Suchopárek: if the necessary win over Denmark does not come next Tuesday, it would not be surprising if the Strahov football government also talked about the future of the coach of the twenty-one team.
At the same time, there was not much left, and at this moment the Lionesses could have four points behind Iceland and a win over Wales. But in both cases, she scored a goal at the end of the match: in the 94th and 96th minutes, respectively. Like through a copier.
“Two misses at the end of the matches cost us points,” Suchopárek regretted. In Iceland, his boys wanted to win and went on the offensive, but against Wales they retreated in fear. The result was the same in Reykjavík and in České Budějovice: an incomprehensible eclipse, an opponent’s goal and an unnecessary loss of points.
Even before the first test match against Slovakia (2:0), experts mentioned that the twenty-one team could be even stronger than in the previous cycle. But reality does not yet confirm this, the new team has reserves especially in terms of productivity. He showed it in both duels in the qualification.
Against Wales, for example, the offensive trio of Adam Karabec, Kryštof Daněk and Matěj Jurásek (goal and stick) was entertaining, but what is the point when the Czech boys are still waiting for their first win. If they had added a second goal in time on Friday (they already had enough chances in the first half when they dominated), they would not have had to worry at the end. Not to mention the fact that they conceded the equalizer long after the four-minute allotted time had expired.
Maneuvering space is narrowing, next time the twenty-one must win against the so far undefeated Denmark at their favorite stadium in Budějovice. Another loss would significantly reduce the chances of direct promotion, which will only concern the group winners and the three best runners-up. In fact, she would have nearly suffocated her.
The words about a great group and the quality of the team are nice to hear and maybe seriously reflect the truth, but now it wants to transfer them to the field. Otherwise, others will go to Slovakia.
