Slavic heart? Šilhavý incomprehensibly did not include Pesek, the best winger of the start of the league season

The Czech national team managed to win the first qualification match in September and kept their hopes of advancing from the first place after a 1:0 victory over Belarus. However, a large part of the fans were already dissatisfied before the opening whistle, as Jakub Pešek was missing from the starting line-up.

Due to the absence of Patrik Schick, Michael Krmencik and Tomas Pekhart, the first three forwards in Jaroslav Šilhavy’s hierarchy, a line-up with Adam Hložek at the top was expected.

Yes, the role of a lone poacher does not suit the most expensive player in the Fortuna Liga, but none of the trio Martin Doležal, Stanislav Tecl, Matěj Vydra is in representative form, or rather, Vydra’s game load is low.

All the prestigious Czech websites predicted the same offensive lineup of Jakub Jankto, Antonín Barák, Jakub Pešek, Adam Hložek, but the coaching staff chose Doležal over Pešek.

The Sparta summer signing entered his engagement at Letná with great results, scoring six goals (4+2) in his first ten competitive matches. It was him who secured the promotion over Rapid and the related Europa League group with a goal and an assist.

His fearlessness in one-on-one battles could have come in handy against the defending Belarusians, but the choice of Dolezal changed the tactics to centres into the whitewash, which clearly didn’t work.

Šilhavy, who has long been accused of giving priority to players from Slavia (his last club employer) in nominations, didn’t help either. On social media, he took a big hit for the omission of Pesek.

Let’s see if after Dolezal’s not so dazzling performance in Thursday’s match the coaching team will change and give Pešek a chance against Belgium. He would undoubtedly deserve it.

Source