Prediction: Republic of Ireland to win 1-0
Best Odds: 8/1
Bookmaker: Zetbet
The Czech Republic and the Republic of Ireland will lock horns with each other in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA second round this week. The playoff semi-final tie between Miroslav Koubek’s side and Heimir Hallgrímsson’s team will be held at the Fortuna Arena in Prague and is scheduled to kick off at 7:45pm UK time on Thursday.
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic were not expected to win their 2026 World Cup qualifying group, which also had Croatia, and so it proved to be the case, although not many expected them to lose to the Faroe Islands.
Miroslav Koubek’s side will now have to negotiate the playoffs to make their way to the 2026 World Cup finals.
Ahead of the match, Koubek said about Republic of Ireland international striker Troy Parrott: “Parrott, he is outstanding, he is doing great, he is very fit.
“We know how he works, we do have some info, so now it will all be about eliminating him in a smart way. So we will just have to stop him.
”I never said anything about that. Maybe you used Google Translate. I never said anything about being primitive.
“I think there must be some noise. You definitely have some great players. I never said your game style was primitive, (and) please don’t put words in my mouth.”
Team News:
The Czech Republic are likely to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation against the Republic of Ireland. Kovar will be in goal and will have Coufal, Vitik, Krejci and Jurasek in front of him in defence. Cerv and Soucek will be the two holding midfielders. Provod, Sulc and Karabec will be the three attacking midfielders. Schick will lead the line for the Czech Republic.
Republic of Ireland
The Republic of Ireland did not start their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign strongly, but they mad either through to the playoffs after winning their final three games. Heimir Hallgrímsson’s side will now be confident of getting the job done, first against the Czech Republic in the semi-finals and then in the final.
Ahead of the match, Hallgrímsson said: “I think we all know by now why we got good results and good performances, and that’s the key: not to be over-ambitious tomorrow, stay on point, focus on why we are here and trying to improve, not only in this game, but continuously.”
Seamus Coleman noted: “I didn’t have many minutes before the last games.
“But, to be honest, I train 100 per cent every single day, sometimes to my own fault.
“Maybe I sometimes go too hard and it’s cost me at times, but it’s the only way I know, and thankfully at club level we do train hard.
“When you pull on the green shirt, when everything is at stake, with the games I’ve played in past, I’m feeling good and I’m ready for the game.”
Coleman added: “A bit like the boss said, selfishly, it would be amazing because as players you do want to do as much as you can in the game.
“After the last two games [Portugal and Hungary], seeing what it did to our country, it was incredible.
“Even speaking about it now, it was incredible what it did to our country, how it lifted our people, how it made people happier and gave them something to get up in the morning and talk about.
“That is so important. As much as us players want to do it for ourselves and for the manager and all the people behind the scenes, we want to do it for the people of our country.”
Team News:
The Republic of Ireland are likely to line up in a 5-3-2 formation against the Czech Republic. Kelleher will be in goal for the Republic of Ireland. Coleman, O’Brien, Collins, O’Shea and Manning will be the five defenders. Molumby, Cullen and Azaz will be the three midfielders. Ogbene and Parrott will be deployed as the two forwards.
Key Factors to Consider
- The Czech Republic have won 2 of their last 5 matches in all competitions.
- The Czech Republic have lost 1 and drawn 2 of their last 5 matches in all competitions.
- The Republic of Ireland have won all 3 of their last games in all competitions.
- The Republic of Ireland have lost 2 of their last 5 games in all competitions.
- The Republic of Ireland have scored 7 goals and conceded 5 goals in their last 5 games in all competitions.
Conclusion
The Republic of Ireland are in better form, but the Czech Republic are a good team. It is very likely that this will be a very tight game. The Republic of Ireland should just edge it.
Prediction: Republic of Ireland to win 1-0
Best Odds: 8/1
Bookmaker: Zetbet
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