Czechia ended up in the group stage of the 2026 World Cup, mainly because almost everything that got them there stopped working during the tournament.

What happened?

Czechia had problems with quality on the ball, couldn't control the tempo, and punish mistakes. The 1:5 defeat in Croatia was a reminder of what the national team looks like against an opponent with quality on the ball.

Why it matters

The course of qualification did not look like the path of a mature team that knows exactly what it wants to be. The Czech national team often benefited from physical superiority, strength in the penalty area, and the fact that many opponents were unable to put up sustained resistance.

What's next?

Czechia needs to build a sufficiently high-quality alternative for moments when standard situations, pressure into the penalty area, aggressive defense, or play across the wings don't work. League standing: 4th in FIFA World Cup 2026, 1 pts, 0W-1D-2L from 3 games, recent form LDL. Next fixture: vs Croatia (at home, 2026-09-26).