Ireland head to Prague in play-off action tomorrow night. Read our in-depth preview here…
After a qualifying campaign that looked dead and buried in September, Heimir Hallgrímsson’s Republic of Ireland arrive at a World Cup play-off riding a remarkable wave of momentum.
Back-to-back wins over Armenia and Portugal and a dramatic last-gasp 3-2 victory in Hungary have catapulted the Boys in Green into the play-offs, sparking dreams of a first World Cup appearance since 2002.
However, the Czech Republic will present a formidable wall. The hosts are unbeaten in their last 17 home qualifiers, a record stretching back nearly nine years.
Despite this, the national team has been in a state of flux; a shock loss to the Faroe Islands in October led to the dismissal of Ivan Hasek. New boss Miroslav Koubek, 74, takes charge for the first time on Thursday, tasked with ending the nation’s 20-year World Cup drought.
Ireland defender Seamus Coleman is fit and raring to go despite barely featuring for Everton this season.
Coleman was left out of the squad for Ireland’s opening two qualifying games, manager Hallgrimsson citing his lack of game time at club level.
The 37-year-old has started all four matches since then, despite playing only 12 minutes in the Premier League this season.
“Everyone wants to be playing, that’s the way it works,” vice-captain Coleman said in Prague.
“I didn’t have many minutes before the last games, but I train 100% every single day. Sometimes to my own detriment, maybe sometimes I go too hard and it’s cost me at times, but it’s the only way I know.
“When you put on the green shirt and when everything’s at stake, I’m feeling good and I’m ready for the game.”
Team news for Czech Republic v Republic of Ireland
The hosts are expected to rely on experience, with West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek and former Hammer Vladimir Coufal still key men. Patrik Schick leads the line, having netted four goals in the qualifying group.
Ireland face a defensive crisis with Liam Scales and Festy Ebosele both suspended for the trip to Prague. Ryan Manning is the most likely candidate to step in at left wing-back.
Up front, Evan Ferguson is ruled out after ankle surgery, meaning the goalscoring burden falls squarely on Troy Parrott, supported by the returning Chiedozie Ogbene.
Predicted line-ups for Czech Republic v Republic of Ireland
Czech Republic: Kovar; Coufal, Vitik, Krejci, Jurasek; Cerv, Soucek; Provod, Sulc, Karabec; Schick.
Republic of Ireland: Kelleher; Coleman, O’Brien, Collins, O’Shea, Manning; Ogbene, Molumby, Azaz, Knight; Parrott.
Stats for Czech Republic v Republic of Ireland
- This will be the Republic of Ireland’s sixth World Cup play-off – they were eliminated ahead of the 1966, 1998, 2010 and 2018 World Cups, and progressed for the 2002 World Cup after eliminating Iran in the play-off.
- Republic of Ireland have won one of nine away matches in all competitions (D1 L7) against Czechia (including games as Czechoslovakia), a 2-1 win in November 1967 in a European Championship qualifier. They have lost each of their last five visits there since that win.
- Troy Parrott has scored five goals in his last two games for the Republic of Ireland, netting two against Portugal and a hat-trick against Hungary. He’s the fourth player to net 2+ goals in consecutive Ireland appearances, after Jimmy Dunne (May 1936), Robbie Keane (June 2013) and Callum Robinson (October 2021); no one has achieved that in three games in a row.
Prediction for Czech Republic v Republic of Ireland
Czech Republic
2
–
1
Republic of Ireland
While Ireland’s spirit and recent form make them a dangerous underdog, the Czech Republic’s incredible home record is difficult to ignore. In the cauldron of the Fortuna Arena, the clinical finishing of Patrik Schick and the tactical “new manager bounce” under Koubek might just edge out the Irish. Expect a fiery encounter that could go the distance
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