Beat Iceland 2-1 in Iceland. Soucek and Sykora with the goals. Game didn't mean much, but I am disappointed Vaclik continues to be our #1 while Pavlenka is playing well in the bundesliga.
The match was actually played in Qatar for some reason. Always good to win, but to say the least it wasn't exactly the full A team of either team.
The team will travel to China during the next international break to play in a four team tournament. We will face Uruguay on March 23 and then either Wales or China on March 26. I'd expect a stronger squad than the one that travelled to Qatar in November. Hopefully Vydra and Schick are called to aid Krmencik up front in what's a pretty decent trio at the moment. I'm mostly concerned with our CB depth. Outside of Kalas and Suchy, Jarolim will have to choose from a handful of players with little to no experience at this level.
I just realized Pokorny transferred back to Czech. I was hoping he'd do well in France. Luftner, Kalas, Suchy, Brabec, and... I really don't know. Maybe ring up Sivok haha. Our centerbacks are really subpar.
I just realized Pokorny transferred back to Czech. I was hoping he'd do well in France. Luftner, Kalas, Suchy, Brabec, and... I really don't know. Maybe ring up Sivok haha. Our centerbacks are really subpar.
Brabec has fallen out of favour at Genk and hasn't played in months, so can't count on him now. I don't rate Luftner at all, but Jarolim will likely call him up anyways. I'd honestly consider taking Sivok at this point. There's also Stefan Simic who has featured at times for Crotone this season (on loan from AC Milan), though he hasn't appeared much recently. Probably our most talented CB, but still a bit of an unknown commodity.
We lost 2-0 to Uruguay and then beat China 4-1. Not as disastrous as the vast majority of Czech fans made it out to be. Their constant negativity and belittling of our team never fails to amaze me. Anyways, couple of friendlies lined up in June against Australia and Nigeria before the newly adapted UEFA Nations League commences in the fall. Ukraine and Slovakia are our opponents.
Gotta focus for Euros 2020 now. This year we can hopefully get a solid core of players because qualifying starts in next year.
Nominace na zápasy s Austrálií a Nigérií Brankáři: Tomáš Koubek, Jiří Pavlenka, Tomáš Vaclík Obránci: Jan Bořil, Theo Gebre Selassie, Pavel Kadeřábek, Tomáš Kalas, Filip Novák, Marek Suchý, Jakub Jugas Záložníci: Antonín Barák, Vladimír Darida, Josef Hušbauer, Jakub Jankto, Jan Kopic, Tomáš Souček, Jaromír Zmrhal Útočníci: Michael Krmenčík, Patrik Schick, Matěj Vydra Most recent squad from Jarolim for a training camp in Austria that includes a pair of friendlies (really early start times for those in North America). I'd say it's pretty much near our strongest possible team based on form. I think our starting XI is not that bad, now it's just about the players growing accustomed to playing together. It's somewhat encouraging that Jarolim appears to have a core in place, but again, his actual game management at this level is still a concern.
I was thinking the same thing. Our team isn't terrible although we are putting a lot of pressure on the likes of Jankto, Barak, and Schick to have success. We don't have many players playing in top leagues.
We definitely some good players in the mix, but a lot of them sort of overlap. Our defense is definitely what concerns me most though; that's objectively not a great depth of talent.
Defensively we can only hope Suchy and Kalas emerge as a reliable pair. They're literally the only two I'd be comfortable playing in a competitive game right now. I wonder how Vydra will be used. Playing him behind Schick would be interesting to say the least.
I actually think Schick behind Vydra (or Krmencik) would be better, although I'd welcome any experiment that plays a bit more attacking. Vydra is fast and can finish (why he's done so well in the Championship) but is very limited in any formation that asks him to do much else (why he's done so poorly in the Premiership and Serie A) - I remember he was played on the right wing for us a few times and he looked very out of his element. Krmencik is also definitely at his best closer to goal. Schick has more ability to create his own opportunity and his skill on the ball could create space for another striker, although he's still a bit green and sometimes gives the ball away needlessly doing too much.
I'd be happy with any of those variations to be honest. Whatever leads to the most production. Just having Schick and Vydra consistently in the squad and healthy will be an upgrade over any Czech league forward. In a lone striker formation, a midfield three of Barak, Soucek, and Darida with Jankto and Kopic on the wings appears to be Jarolim's first choice, and I wouldn't disagree with that.
Kaderabek, Selassie, Zmrhal, and Vydra all withdrew from the squad earlier in the week. Jarolim called up six players from the Czech league. Looks like we could start with a front three of Kopic, Krmencik, Schick and a midfield of Darida, Husbauer, Barak for tomorrow.
Kaderabek and Selassie withdrew? Defense found a way to be even worse... This, however, actually sounds decent.
I'd imagine the front three will see Schick play more off on the right wing as he did with Roma at times this year. A traditional 4-4-2 wouldn't make sense in my opinion. Barak as a winger would leave Husbauer (who I don't think should be first choice at this level) and Darida pretty vulnerable. Koubek confirmed to start in goal as well. The back four will likely be Boril, Jugas, Suchy, and Novak. Game starts at 7am over here. Don't think I'll catch it.
Got to watch some of the 2nd half with my morning tea since I am working from home. The defense is even worse in action than they are on paper, and the aggressive midfield formation has left them exposed on counterattacks that they can't handle. And just when they seemed as bad as possible, Jugas just makes clinical finish into his own net.
I realize it's rare to sack a manager because of a friendly without some key players, but if there was ever a time this is it. Jarolim has no ideas.
That was fecking dreadful. Our line-up wasn't even poor. We truly had no desire in this match. The guys are already on holiday. Can't wait to get smashed by Nigeria next.
It was a collectively awful performance, but even so it's hard not to single out the center of defense: Jugas who really should never be allowed on field for the national team again (it was a stretch to allow him this time). He had a goal (4th goal) and an assist (2nd goal) for the other team. Kalas wasn't really any better, and his poor attempt at a challenge lead directly to the 3rd goal. From what I gather in match reports we actually may have started stronger (I only saw the 2nd half), but came completely undone after they got the first goal.
Kalas doesn't even start for Fulham so he does not deserve to be starting for us. Our defense is a huge issues at the moment. We used to have such a strong D too.
I've only watched the highlights. Inexcusable result. Embarrassing to lose like this, especially Australia of all sides. Aside from Suchy and Kalas, ideally we'd have Brabec and Simic in the squad. Jarolim will not find anyone outside of those four that can somewhat manage at this level. I'd even try Celustka at CB before any Czech league player. Jugas and (before he gets called up in the future) Luftner must never be in the national team. I've never seen defenders with worse technique than those two. Jarolim I'll wait to comment on after the Nigeria game.