Prague verdict
Czech Republic remain alive in World Cup qualifying. Two nights ago in Prague they recovered from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with the Republic of Ireland and then completed the escape with a 4-3 shoot-out win, setting up a play-off final against Denmark.
It began badly for Ivan Hašek’s side. VAR sided with Nathan Collins in the 16th minute, the referee pointing to the spot, and Troy Parrott converted from twelve yards in the 19th minute. Worse followed when Matěj Kovář misjudged a 23rd-minute cross and diverted it into his own net, gifting the visitors a two-goal cushion.
Ireland could not turn that start into control. Jack Taylor collected a yellow card in the 21st minute and Ryan Manning followed in the 25th, early signs of a midfield scrambling rather than dictating. Patrik Schick halved the deficit with a 27th-minute penalty, calm under pressure and reminding everyone that the hosts had too much attacking craft to fold.
Hašek wasted no time in reshaping his 3-4-3. Tomáš Holeš and Vladimír Darida departed at half-time for Štěpán Chaloupek and Tomáš Souček, turning the back line into a more assertive trio and pushing Ladislav Krejčí higher. From there the Czechs kept the ball, with Chaloupek’s distribution from the right of the three and Souček’s third-man runs forcing Ireland back.
Heimir Hallgrímsson flipped his flanks on 68 minutes, Robbie Brady replacing Taylor while Alan Browne came on for Manning, yet the switch removed the early width that Séamus Coleman and Manning had offered in the 3-4-2-1. Michal Sadílek’s arrival in the 82nd minute for David Jurásek proved decisive: four minutes later he found Krejčí, who levelled in the 86th minute. The captain’s equaliser rewarded a dominant display — he contested 29 duels and won 21, a relentless presence on the left of the back three.
Robin Hranáč’s yellow card at 90+1 underlined the tightrope the Czechs were walking, but extra time produced little jeopardy. Hallgrímsson emptied his bench, sending on Jimmy Dunne and Adam Idah in the 96th minute, Sammie Szmodics in the 115th and Harvey Vale at 120+1, yet Parrott’s early thrust was long forgotten. Dara O’Shea and Collins defended stoutly, but there was no platform to release Parrott or Finn Azaz once the Czechs controlled possession.
The shootout finally tilted the hosts’ way. Czech Republic converted four kicks to Ireland’s three, enough to erase Kovář’s earlier error and ignite celebrations inside the Fortuna Arena.
Shape and adjustments
Hašek’s 3-4-3 leaned heavily on Krejčí stepping into midfield, effectively creating a box with Lukáš Provod and Souček after the interval. The tweak nullified Ireland’s double tens: squeezed for space, Azaz dropped toward Jayson Molumby to connect play. Hallgrímsson’s 3-4-2-1 had promise early, particularly with Coleman overlapping Chiedozie Ogbene, but once Browne and Brady were tasked with holding the flanks Ireland lost their vertical release. Hašek also edged the bench battle: Sadílek and Adam Karabec, introduced in the 82nd minute, added the assist and fresh pressure, while Mojmír Chytil’s running after the 73rd minute drained the Irish centre-backs before Jan Kliment’s brief extra-time cameo.
Key moments
- 16th minute: VAR confirms a penalty for Ireland after Collins is impeded.
- 19th minute: Parrott scores the penalty for a 1-0 Ireland lead.
- 23rd minute: Kovář’s own goal makes it 2-0 to the visitors.
- 27th minute: Schick converts from the spot to halve the deficit.
- 46th minute: Chaloupek and Souček replace Holeš and Darida as Hašek changes shape.
- 68th minute: Brady and Browne enter as Hallgrímsson chases control.
- 86th minute: Krejčí equalises, assisted by Sadílek.
- Penalties: Czech Republic prevail 4-3.
Numbers
- Possession: Czech Republic 58 percent, Republic of Ireland 42 percent.
- Total shots: Czech Republic 12, Republic of Ireland 10.
- Shots on target: three each.
- Corners: Republic of Ireland nine, Czech Republic six.
- Fouls: Czech Republic 25, Republic of Ireland 14.
What next
Deal done: Czech Republic move on to face Denmark for a World Cup ticket, buoyed by Krejčí’s authority and a bench that delivered. Ireland must regroup quickly; Hallgrímsson’s side need a sharper attacking pattern before the Nations League arrives. For more on this week’s qualifiers, see Slovakia vs Kosovo.
