A contract? We will be smarter after our meeting with the management, I regret the injury of two players, says Šilhavy

The Czech national football team has had its national meeting in March. After losing in the World Cup barrage in Qatar to Sweden (0::1pp), they drew in Wales 1::1, how did coach Jaroslav Šilhavy evaluate the match?

The Czech team played the semi-final of the barrage for the 2022 World Cup on Thursday. They lost 0:1 to Sweden after extra time and the Scandinavians went into a direct duel with Poland for the championship. However, they failed to win the match and the Poles are now through to the championship after a 2:0 win.

The Czechs had to play a friendly against the winner of the Wales vs. Austria match despite finishing in the barrier. The better of this pair was supposed to play the final of the barrage with the winner of Ukraine vs. Scotland, but due to the war in Ukraine this semi-final was postponed.

“It wasn’t easy to get the players back on the right track, in the right motivation to put it behind us. It was another national team match, we approached it with all seriousness. Both in terms of results and partly also in terms of the game, the boys managed it,” said Šilhavý in a post-match interview for ČT Sport .

After the Czech national team dropped out of the barrage, speculation began about the possible end of coach Jaroslav Šilhavý. The players themselves have defended their coach in interviews, and experts have mentioned that the Euro quarter-finals and qualification for the World Cup barrage is not a complete failure for the Czech Republic.

Moreover, Šilhavý coped with numerous injuries and played a good 120 minutes against the strong Swedes with an improvised line-up. Not to mention that it is hard to find three possible suitable candidates to replace him in the Czech Republic.

“There was no time to solve this. We just said goodbye to some players, for example Tomáš Souček is staying here and going back to his club from here. Regarding the future, my previous answer before the match that we will be smarter after our meeting with the management is valid,” continued the national team coach.

As on Thursday, the Czechs played a balanced football with their opponents in the first half. Tomas Soucek scored a goal, Jan Kuchta had two more, and the team worked well at the back, apart from the confused Zima.

The big blemish for some unnecessary friendly match were two injuries. Jindřich Staněk had to make a substitution due to a headbutt in the first half, and Lukáš Masopust injured his groin outside of a duel. Plzen and Slavia are praying that their representatives will be ready for Sunday’s game.

“I’m sorry. Stanek got hit in the head by an opposing player. Since he had a concussion about three weeks ago, we decided together with the doctors that he will not start the second half. He seems fine now. Lukáš Masopust has a puncture wound in his groin. But I believe it is not such a serious injury that he cannot play for the club,” added Šilhavý.

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