We can leave with our heads held high, we left everything on the field. I think we could have beaten them despite all the absences, says Vaclik

Tomas Vaclik could have been the hero and saved the penalty kick, but unfortunately it didn’t happen. The Czechs fell in the semi-final of the barrage with Sweden in extra time after a good action and the World Cup will be without them. What did the Czech goalkeeper say after the sad elimination?

The score was 0:2 in regulation time, thanks to Tomas Vaclik, who showed that he deserves to be the number one on the national team, although he is unfortunately not outstanding with his feet.

In the overtime, however, the Swedes showed a beautiful action and the Czech goalkeeper didn’t have much chance to prevent the goal. What did he say after the sad defeat?

“It is quiet in the cabin, we are all disappointed. It was close to going to penalties. We had a great chance in the 94th minute. But we can leave with our heads held high, we left everything on the pitch. It’s difficult,” he told a news conference.

Yet progress was not far away, the Czechs were not conceded a disputed goal in the first half, and in normal time our selection was quite possibly better on the pitch. However, it was a bad substitution and the subsequent extra time, which was already played with only one goal, that made the difference.

“I think we could have beaten them despite all the absences, of which there were many. But I think we fought bravely. Nobody complained about it and we went into the game thinking we would give our best. I’m sure we did that,” he added.

The Czechs now have a friendly against Wales on the schedule, but although they have progressed, they will have to wait until the summer for their opponent, which will be one of the Scotland-Ukraine pairing.

Quite possibly, with a new coaching team, the Czechs will play in the Nations League in the summer, where they will face Switzerland, Spain and Portugal in the elite group.

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