MY ACCOUNT
Czech Republic’s first game at the top level of the Nations League is at home to Switzerland — and it could be a baptism of fire for the hosts.
Injuries mean the Czechs will be a long way from full strength for their Group A2 opener at the Sinobo Stadium in Prague.
Indeed, it is Switzerland who come into the match in far higher spirits having pipped Italy to automatic qualification for this year’s World Cup.
That, hot on the heels of a solid showing at Euro 2020 where they were only eliminated on penalties by Spain in the last eight, says Murat Yakin’s men will always be hard to beat.
It would be no surprise to see the Swiss triumph, given the fact the Czechs — also quarter-finalists at last summer’s Euros — are missing a glut of key men including star striker Patrik Schick.
The Czechs are also licking their wounds after failing to qualify for the World Cup, having been undone by Sweden in a play-off in March.
Team news
Czech coach Jaroslav Silhavy has bemoaned the absence of “at least ten” players who he would have wanted for this daunting run of games — they also play Spain twice and Portugal over the next 11 days.
Most notably, Euro 2020 top scorer Schick is out with a groin strain suffered at the end of a 24-goal season for Bayer Leverkusen, while Tomas Holes, Tomas Kalas, Antonin Barak and Burnley striker Matej Vydra are also absent.
Indeed the Czechs look crippled up front with Tomas Pekhart and Michael Krmencik sidelined. Lokomotiv Moscow’s Jan Kuchta, yet to score in six appearances, is expected to lead the line.
The Swiss are pretty much at full strength. Denis Zakaria and Christian Fassnacht may well have been included in the squad if fit but would not have started.
The stats
The Czechs, promoted to Nations League A for the first time, are unbeaten in seven over 90 minutes with four clean sheets in their last five.
Just six members of Silhavy’s squad have scored an international goal. Conversely, 16 players in Yakin’s group have found the net for their country.
Switzerland are unbeaten in their last nine competitive matches and conceded just one goal in six World Cup qualifiers last autumn.
Predictions
With heavyweights Spain and Portugal also in this pool, both the Czechs and Switzerland know the importance of making a fast start — and it is the Swiss who look best equipped to do just that.
With Breel Embolo leading the line, in a side packed with Bundesliga and Premier League quality, Yakin’s men certainly have the tools to earn victory in Prague.
The Czechs, minus Schick and other frontmen, look pretty toothless with an over-reliance on set-plays and the obvious threat of someone like Tomas Soucek.
Switzerland should be organised enough to deal with that and can win this, maybe to nil, while it would not be a surprise to see a low-scoring contest.
