Czech Coach Shocks After South Africa Match: "We're Still Alive! I Rate the Performance Positively"

"I evaluate our performance positively. We played against a team that is exceptionally skilled on the ball, with incredibly talented players. We knew what to expect, that we wouldn't always dominate. We had four or five clear-cut chances, and that's where we lost the game, even before that unfortunate moment. We should have scored at least two goals," assessed the Czech coach.

Miroslav Koubek made several changes before the match. Key national team players like Tomáš Souček and Pavel Šulc only came on after halftime.

"There's definitely something to build on. We'll analyze it. We'd like to continue this trend. Unfortunately, we now face Mexico at home, and we'll see how tonight's match (Mexico - South Korea) plays out. We'll make some adjustments and strategize. We're still alive," Koubek added.

Captain Ladislav Krejčí also sought the reason for their setback. Unlike his post-match interview after the South Korea game, he chose more positive words this time.

"We were brave, we played, we weren't afraid. But then we started playing too simply again and let them back into the game. The end of the match? Unfortunately, we ran out of steam," stated the Czech captain at the 2026 World Cup.

However, just like coach Koubek, he still believes that the Czech Republic has a chance to advance.

"We need to break it down because we can see for ourselves that it's possible, and we have the courage for it. Is it something that tightens us up, or is it fatigue? I can't tell you now. We saw that there are opportunities; if we have the right commitment in midfield, we can get past them. It's a shame, but we're still in it," Krejčí said.

The Czech Republic will play their final group stage match against Mexico on Wednesday night into Thursday, June 25th, at 3:00 AM. At the same time, South Korea will face South Africa.