"Czech Republic are seeking a first qualification since 2006 and secured second in their group after taking 16 points from eight games, edging the Faroe Islands by four points. They have also reached every European Championship since 1996, but this World Cup campaign wasn't without drama, as boss Ivan Hasek was sacked last month after a shock 2-1 defeat to the Faroe Islands."
"They concluded the group with 6-0 win over Gibraltar on Monday night, but afterwards the Czech FA issued a statement hitting out at the players for allegedly ignoring their fans after the full-time whistle, who had been critical of the team's performances of late. Captain Tomas Soucek, of West Ham, was stripped of the captaincy for their next game while the FA say that he and his team will also be denied financial bonuses, which will instead go to charity. "The reaction of the players should have been quite the contrary. They should have thanked the fans," read the statement."
"Ireland have played the Czechs eight times since their first meeting in 1994, winning twice, with their last clash coming 13 years ago as a late Simon Cox leveller secured a draw for Giovanni Trapattoni's side. Soucek is the current star of the team, while Bayer Leverkusen forward Patrik Schick and Hoffenheim defender Vladimir Coufal are also important players."
Czech Republic qualified for the World Cup by finishing second in their group with 16 points from eight games, four points ahead of the Faroe Islands. The team has reached every European Championship since 1996 but experienced turmoil when manager Ivan Hasek was sacked after a shock 2-1 defeat to the Faroe Islands. The squad ended group play with a 6-0 win over Gibraltar. The Czech FA accused players of ignoring critical fans, stripped Tomas Soucek of the captaincy for the next game and redirected financial bonuses to charity. Ireland have played the Czechs eight times, winning twice.
Read at Irish Independent
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