Czech national team loses to Serbia, advances from second place to eighth place

Košice – Even one goal in a loss can be important in a tournament. Just like the goal scored by the Czech national player Jiri Sodoma in the last match of the Group E of the European Championship. The Prague striker scored in injury time and, although it only eased the defeat to Serbia 1:4, the goal secured the national team’s second place in the group and qualification for the eight finals.

But that was the only joy for the Czech national team on Monday evening. In the Steel Arena in Košice they were completely behind the Serbs this time. “It was a bad game for us, we have to learn from it and go for the next opponent,” urged Czech captain Stanislav Mařík.

Stanislav Bejda’s side outplayed the Serbian team, had more corners, but only scored in the Sodom setup. “It was a very important goal for us, we are going to second place and play in the eighth round,” said Mařík.

Cedomir Tomcic sent the Serbs into the lead in the second minute, Dorde Celin increased the lead before the end of the first half and Tomcic stifled the Czech effort again shortly after the start of the second half. Aleksandar Zolnajic added a fourth goal in the 38th minute.

“We were expecting a difficult match, after all we were playing against the European champions. But we wanted to be first in this difficult group, which we did,” Tomčič rejoiced after the win.

The Czech team finished second in Group E behind the Serbs, while the French finished third, just one goal behind the Czech team. Fourth place belongs to Moldova.

The defending European champions from Kiev, Ukraine 2018 will not know the name of their eighth-final opponent until Tuesday afternoon, when the regular Group F play-offs are completed. They will come up against its winner, which could still be one of the trio of England, Israel and Kazakhstan.

Czech Republic – Serbia 1::4 (0::2)
Goals:: 50+1. Sodoma – 2. Tomcic, 21. Celin, 27. Tomcic, 38. ŽK:: Žeravica, Tomić, Čičič (all Serbia).
Czech Republic:: Kunický – Rosůlek, Hakl, Mařík (C), Paděra, Sodoma – Levčík, Macko, Jelínek, Presl, Pospiš – Verner, Doubravský, Novotný.
Serbia:: Buzadjija (Vojvodic, Milanov) – Celin, Barac, Nedic (C), Gojkovic, Guberinic – Tomic, Zolnajic, Tomcic, Cic, Vukajlija – Pecic, Zeravica.

Source: Malý fotbal