Coach Denia nominates 18-year-old Idris Hopi for Czech team

Reigning world champions Spain and Croatia await a Czech Republic team featuring an 18-year-old debutant, as coach Santi Denia made the bold decision to call up Teplices forward Idris Hopi, Seznam Zprávy reported. The move comes amid a dire run for the national side, which faces the threat of a historic seventh straight defeat, a streak unseen since the team’s debut in 1906. Hopi’s nomination shows Denia’s commitment to selecting players based on current ability and profile, rather than age or passport.

Idris Hopi: A Meteoric Rise

For those following the Czech league, the name Idris Hopi is synonymous with FK Teplice, where the teenager is developing as a footballer. With limited top-flight experience—11 appearances to date—Hopi has made a notable impact when on the pitch, showcasing audacity, speed, and dribbling skills. He has scored three goals, including a memorable late winner in his professional debut on May 16, 2026, just one day after signing his first professional contract.

According to SportyZive.cz, Hopi’s trajectory is defined by key dates. On May 15, 2026, he signed his first professional deal after a season in which he scored 27 goals in 25 matches for Teplice’s U19 team. The following day, he scored on his league debut. He added another goal on May 23 and a third on October 11. Just 175 days after turning professional, he received his first call-up to the senior national team.

What makes Hopi’s profile attractive to Denia is his specific skill set. The coach, speaking at a press conference covered by Football Club, emphasized Hopi’s current abilities: speed, one-on-one dueling, and strength in physical battles. Denia reiterated that he does not select players based on their date of birth but on whether they fit the team’s playing style and can contribute immediately.

🥹🇨🇿 Moment, na který nikdy nezapomene!

Zdenko Frťala na konci tréninku oznámil osmnáctiletému Idrisi Hopimu, že byl nominován do české seniorské reprezentace! 🤯

A reakce spoluhráčů? Nádhera! 💛💙👏

🎥 Podívejte se sami! pic.twitter.com/4ldaWpvS2p

— FK Teplice (@FK_Teplice) November 6, 2026

High Stakes and a Coach on the Edge

The stakes for this international break could not be higher. Czech Republic is winless in its UEFA Nations League group and faces the real possibility of relegation from the top tier. The team has not won a competitive match in over a year, with its last victory coming in a World Cup qualifier against Gibraltar in November 2025.

This perilous situation has put Denia’s position under intense scrutiny. “Jako bych seděl na elektrickém křeslo,” (It’s like I’m sitting on an electric chair) Denia described his position in an interview with Youradio.cz, referencing the pressure to turn results around. A loss to Spain would extend the team’s winless streak in competitive matches to seven, a mark that would see it etched into the history books for all the wrong reasons.

In September, he called up Teplice winger Matěj Radosta. However, the selection of Hopi, who has started only five of his nine league appearances this season, is his most audacious move yet.

Denia Prioritizes Youth and Specific Roles in Squad Selection

Hopi’s nomination is part of a broader shift in the Czech national team’s philosophy and roster. For the first time since November 2022, the squad features no players from Sparta Prague. Omission also means the absence of Václav Sejk, the league’s most productive Czech player with six goals and three assists in 13 matches. Instead, Denia has prioritized specific roles and youth.

The call-up sends a clear message to clubs. “Taky nám jde o to, že podpoříme Teplice a další kluby, aby dávaly šanci mladým,” (We also want to support Teplice and other clubs to give chances to young players) Denia stated. This philosophy mirrors the decision to call up Sparta’s teenage striker Hugo Sochůrek to the World squad earlier in the year, a move publicly praised as positive, even though Sochůrek did not see any game action and returned to his club fatigued.

The selection also highlights a trend towards recruiting players with diverse backgrounds. Hopi, born in the Czech Republic in May 2008 to Croatian parents from Varaždin, represents a new avenue for talent. National team manager Pavel Nedvěd denied the move was a race to secure players before Croatia, telling Seznam Zprávy, “Pozvali jsme ho pro jeho kvality.” (We called him up for his qualities.)

The Team in Transition

The team’s injury list further complicates preparations. With a full treatment room, Denia is forced to rely on newcomers and fringe players. Alongside Hopi, he has called up 24-year-old David Kozel from Mladá Boleslav. Kozel, a central midfielder, earned his spot after a strong season with over 84% pass accuracy, despite a long injury layoff. The combination of Kozel’s steady growth and Hopi’s explosive rise reflects Denia’s dual approach to rebuilding the squad.

Hopi himself remains grounded. “K nominaci mi asi pomohla tvrdá píle a to, že na sobě makám. Ale snažím se zůstat nohama pevně na zemi,” (Hard work and the fact that I work on myself probably helped me get the nomination. But I try to keep my feet on the ground) he said, as reported on the Teplice club’s website.

Czech Team Faces Spain and Croatia in Nations League

The immediate focus for the Czech team is two crucial Nations League matches. First, they will face Spain in Prague on November 12, 2026. Following that, they travel to Zagreb to take on Croatia on November 15, 2026. The results will determine whether the team can avoid relegation and halt its concerning winless streak. For Idris Hopi, these matches represent the culmination of a rapid rise and the beginning of a potential senior international career.

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