CZECH REP SUFFER SECOND STRAIGHT DEFEAT

Czech Republic suffered a second straight loss against Northern Ireland to dash their 2018 World Cup hopes.


They lost 2-0 against Northern Ireland to put their spot on a shaky note in Group C.

West Brom stars Jonny Evans and Chris Brunt scored a goal apiece as they thrashed Czech Rep. For Czech, it is more devastating after their loss to Germany. The result put Northern Ireland on a very good note to qualify from the group after winning five matches in a row.

Northern Ireland have Germany and Norway to face in the final group games but they are sure to make the cut for Russia next year. Eight of nine teams would make the playoffs in Europe. The victory against Czech will help them improve their FIFA world rankings for the month of October. The rankings would decide the best second placed teams from each group, helping them avoid a stronger side. Continue reading “CZECH REP SUFFER SECOND STRAIGHT DEFEAT”

SLUTSKY SAYS APPOINTMENT WOULD SWELL RUSSIAN SUPPORT

The head coach of Championship side Hull City Leonid Slutsky believes his appointment as the first Russian manager in English football would swell Russian support for the club.


The 46-year old manager is commissioned with the task of pulling a Benitez by returning the club to the top flight as soon as possible.

The Marco Silva replacement has a high profile in his home country. He won three titles while coaching CSKA Moscow. He also led the national team of Russia at the Euro 2016 last year in France. The manager opines that English football is popular in Russia so his appointment could improve the followership by the fans back at the Far East.

“English football is very popular in Russia. The first tournament by Russian TV companies was the English Premier League. It’s really popular in Russia. I’m a coach, I don’t have a team, but of course when Mr [Roman] Abramovich bought Chelsea a lot of Russians supported them and I’m not an exception,” the coach said.

He agreed that more Russians would support Hull now that he was the manager.

“I don’t know how many [Russian] supporters there will be on the stands because it’s difficult. But Maybe energy from TV, I think now. In Russia, there are 150 million people and I think 50 percent will be supporting Hull City,” Slutsky boldly claimed. Continue reading “SLUTSKY SAYS APPOINTMENT WOULD SWELL RUSSIAN SUPPORT”

MALTA PLAY SLOVAKIA IN FIRST 2017 WINDOW

Malta are set to play Slovakia in the first international window of 2017.


The Maltese team would need to show endurance, and execute a strict game if they are to get anything from the Slovaks. The Slovakian side reached the Round of 16 at the Euro 2016 but crashed to Germany 3-0.

That team has developed since then. There is the talented skipper Marek Hamsik, former Reds defender Martin Skrtel, and Juraj Kucka. The Slovaks are hoping to navigate through Group F for a spot in Russia 2018.

Slovakia did not start the World Cup campaign very well as they lost back to back to Slovenia and England. They turned around to defeat Scotland 3-0 before whopping Lithuania 4-0. They are four points behind leaders England and Slovenia have two more points. This makes the Maltese team a prey. Continue reading “MALTA PLAY SLOVAKIA IN FIRST 2017 WINDOW”

ITALY GETS EXTRA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SPOT

Football governing body UEFA has announced that Italy would get an extra qualification spot for the Champions League.


Initially, there were reports that England could lose a spot as Premier League sides struggled to impress in recent years. However, the continental football body decided to increase the slots for Italy without reshuffling the status quo.

Italy would now enjoy four spots as England, Spain, and Germany.

“Spain, Germany, England and Italy are confirmed as the top four associations regardless of what happens in the quarter finals and beyond of the two club competitions. And despite ending last season in fifth place, Portugal have fallen outside the top six and with all their clubs now out of Europe will not be able to overtake France and Russia,” a statement credited to UEFA read. Continue reading “ITALY GETS EXTRA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SPOT”

CECH RETIRES FROM INTERNATIONAL ACTION

Arsenal current shot-stopper Peter Cech has announced his retirement from national team sporting activities following an impressive career that saw him won several individual silverware.


The 34-year old goalkeeper throughout his international career holds a record of 121 caps for country and competed in all three games that his country featured in before been thrown out of the group stage of 2016 Euro competition.

Cech made his first international debut in 2001 and went on to represent his country at the 2014 Euro. Cech’s performance in that competition saw the country finished third. The lanky goalkeeper then went ahead to captain his side at Euro 2008.

Although the world cup of 2006 was the only world cup he has competed in owing to his teams failure to qualify for subsequent world cup, Cech went on to represent his country at Euro 2012 and 2016. Following his glittering career, Cech has now called it quit, choosing to focus on improving his performance at Arsenal. Continue reading “CECH RETIRES FROM INTERNATIONAL ACTION”

Czech Republic given no chance

Germany manager Joachim Low said that his side did not give the Czech Republic any chance in their World Cup qualifiers.


He stated that his team was stronger than the Czech Republic and that they deserve to win their games. Indeed Germany beat the Czech Republic 3-0 to take the first place in their qualifying group.

The current world champions coach said that his team deserves to win and that they were never in danger during the match. He said that his team made the best start to the game and did not give the Czech Republic any chance to create occasions.

Joachim Low said that his side already won the game after an hour and that there was little the Czech Republic could do to change the pattern of play.

Germany defender Jerome Boateng stated that it was an easy game for them and that they could have scored more goals in the game. He said that the Czech Republic were always chasing them and that they could never take control of the match. He stated that Germany will have to replicate the same performance against Northern Ireland and that they need to keep control of the games. Continue reading “Czech Republic given no chance”

NORTHERN IRELAND NAME SQUAD FOR CZECH GAME

Northern Ireland has named the squad that would be paraded when they take on Czech Republic in the World Cup qualifier.


Coach Martin O’Neill named players he deemed fit to ensure they get past Czech Republic. O’Neill left out Wigan Athletic striker Will Grigg despite hitting four goals this campaign already. O’Neill chose Liam Boyce as his replacement, citing “personal reasons” as the rationale at a press conference. He opened up that the player would be missing as his partner was expecting a baby, and he didn’t want to miss it.

“He [Liam] was very unlucky to miss out of France. It was a toss of a coin between him and Will Grigg. He got a bad wrist injury and played poorly in the League Cup final even though County won the final, so his season fizzled out a bit after a strong first half, whereas Will Grigg finished strongly,” O’Neill explained.

O’Neill left out Linfield goal tender Roy Carroll, but named Tom Flanagan who has featured just once for Northern Ireland at Under 21 level. Flanagan was born in Hammersmith and he started his career at ML Dons. He was released in 2015 from his contract, but the central defender joined Burton Albion. Burton are playing in the English Championship for the first time, and Flanagan has been a regular. Continue reading “NORTHERN IRELAND NAME SQUAD FOR CZECH GAME”

CZECH REPUBLIC COACH LEAVES FOR RUSSIA

Czech Republic coach Pavel Vrba has left the national team job to pick up a post in Russia, the Football Association confirms.

The coach failed to guide the team out of Group D at the ongoing Euro 2016 in France. He has now left to continue his coaching career in another role at Anzhi Makhachkala in Russia.


The 52-year old tactician led the team where they could only garner a point from the 2-2 draw against Croatia. The team lost to defending champions Spain and they then were defeated by Turkey in a shocking encounter. The finished bottom at the group, meaning their campaign ended instantly.

Vrba was the one who guided Viktoria Plzen to two league titles and a Czech Cup victory; he agreed to lead the national team in November 2013. He started the job in the first month in 2014, as the team had already failed to qualify got the World Cup which was hosted in Brazil. Since taking over, he has recorded some decent strides. One of which is leading the team to the top spot in Group A of the qualifying round for the European Championship. Czech qualified above Turkey, eventual quarter finalist Iceland and Netherlands, who later missed out at the tournament.
Continue reading “CZECH REPUBLIC COACH LEAVES FOR RUSSIA”

Czech Republic Faces Turkey In Last Euro 2016 Game

Czech Republic definitely gave the Turkish side much to prepare and think about when they were facing the upcoming match against turkey in euro 2016.

Indeed, Turkey had a difficult time and having to face Czech Republic was not without concerns for the team. There had been two losses that the side faced as well as had performances that were disjointed for the team. These were in the group games of euro 2016. Turkey was then facing the challenge of staying or going out from the knockout rounds of euro 2016. Indeed, the Turkish players were all pumped up for the game against the Czech Republic as the game was a match that they had to win or they faced elimination.

The team of the Czech Republic also geared up for the game that was crucial for them as well. The captain, however, had to miss out the match as he experienced a hamstring injury. This happened in the draw match that they played against Croatia. Continue reading “Czech Republic Faces Turkey In Last Euro 2016 Game”

CZECH REPUBLIC PLAYER RECEIVES GOAL OF THE SEASON AWARD AMIDST LOUD CHEER

Czech Republic ace, Jiri Skalak, had plenty to smile about as he received his goal of the season award amidst cheers.

The audience urged the Czech rep ace to smile as he received one of the most prestigious individual awards in the Albion calendar. He didn’t disappoint as he was seen grinning and beaming with smiles.


The Czech international had just won the club’s goal of the season competition so there was a real reason to celebrate as he hoped to make an impact in English football – and boosts his Euro 2016 chances.

Albion re-opened their goal of the season poll and extended the voting deadline to cater for Skalak’s screamer against English side, Queen Park Rangers and an Anthony Knockaert free-kick earlier in the same game. It was no surprise to see those two strikes – against a goalkeeper, in Alex Smithies, who had previously kept two clean sheets at the Amex – finish No. 2 and No. 1.

The mid-season signing from Mlada Boleslav is convinced there is more to come from him and when asked if he was playing his best football, the talented player replied:

“I hope not.” Continue reading “CZECH REPUBLIC PLAYER RECEIVES GOAL OF THE SEASON AWARD AMIDST LOUD CHEER”