I am okay with that. Kaderabek is a great wingback in Germany, and Jankto can probably play the other wingback. We have the players for a 3-4-3
I've not been able to watch the match, but we won 1-0. Replay looks like Kalas poached a goal on a mishandled save after a set piece. The match stats make it seem we may be a bit lucky as Nigeria has had over 60% possession and we committed 26 fouls without getting into card trouble. I am waiting to see a more full match description, but my guess is defense was still an issue. Edit: Sounds like we started strong but faded after the goal and just played to hold on. This also is to have happened against Australia, but in that case we completely fell apart. One thing that was mentioned in match reports that I saw is that Sural paired better with Schick than Krmencik. Sural is really more of a wing/forward but presumably as forward plays a bit more like Vydra- so my guess is that would be the pairing at full strength.
I tuned in just after the Kalas goal (about 25 minutes in). Why I continued watching past the first half I'll never know. Complete waste of a game. We were under pressure the entire match, relying on Vaclik to make a number of saves and an ultimately underwhelming performance from Nigeria. The venue was also a joke. Hard to watch a game like this when it's played in miserable conditions. I can't believe we'd even agree to play in this location, especially against a World Cup side. The results of both these past two games are misleading in their own right I'd say. Nothing productive came of either game and we now enter the next phase with plenty of question marks.
I actually quite like Sural. I think he has really upped his game in the last year or two. The main take away from this was we held a shut out using the 3 at the back formation. I know Nigeria were unlucky not to equalise, but I still think this is the best formation for us. We have quality full backs who like to attack, and our midfield seems more suited to it.
I believe that I saw that the squad for the UEFA Nations League match against Ukraine and the friendly against Russia will be announced tomorrow. To be honest, I'm not sure what to expect. Suchy and Darida (most likely) will be out. The biggest loss is Suchy, Darida is the captain but we have competent depth in midfield while our CB situation is kind of dire. I guess the other big question is can anyone play manager?
I'll attempt to play manager here. I'd imagine the players below will all be selected: Vaclik, Pavlenka, Koubek Kaderabek, Gebre Selassie Kalas, Brabec Novak, Boril Jankto, Barak, Husbauer, Soucek, Sykora, Kopic Schick, Krmencik I'm hoping to see Celustka, Dockal, Vydra, and Sural as well. The last few spots I have no idea. I'd call Simic as a back up, but I feel Jarolim will take a Czech league CB, which in that case will be one (hopefully not two) of Pernica, Jemelka, or Stronati.
Celustka should probably be a there considering the options, he's starting in Turkey as a CB and we have no depth there. If Vydra isn't fit, I'd almost want to give Matousek a debut for 3rd striker as no other option in the league is close to the same form currently (well except Krmencik of course), but ideally would rather he stick with the U-21s for now. I haven't been impressed by Sural lately, but part of it is just that Sparta as a team aren't playing well. Otherwise I more or less agree with you picks.
Po třech měsících v tomto složení 👊 pic.twitter.com/GnLt5BZjEy— Česká fotbalová reprezentace (@ceskarepre_cz) August 28, 2018 I guess the plan is to throw fullbacks at the opponent until they submit? There are actually 4 right backs (4.5 if you count Kalas) on that list and only 2 CBs. jezis maria... Happy for Dockal, and shows even more that his agent needs to do everything they can to keep him from going back to China. Barak was on the bench for Udinese last weekend because of a minor knock, but looks like he's expected to be fit. Midfield is fine honestly, everyone is in good form. Krmencik and Schick, a forward that scores but little else and one that does everything else but doesn't score. I would like to see us do a two forward formation against Ukraine.
I thought I read Barak isn't fit and will likely withdraw? The midfield then does concern me a bit. Husbauer and Dockal are fine back ups, but they are a bit too similar in regards to strengths/weaknesses to have them both start in my opinion. And six fullbacks is ridiculous. I get the feeling Jarolim is considering a back three again simply because we beat Nigeria with it. Against Uruguay in March, we started with a back three of Theo, Suchy, and Novak, while having three CBs on the bench... I personally would stick to a back four with Kalas and Brabec in the middle. I say that, but I know Jarolim is considering every possible CB combination but that one.
You're right about Barak, I originally just saw the list but even on the embedded tweet there is now the official response that he is likely to be dropped for a muscle injury. That means 2 of the reserve list will be called up, my picks would be Celustka and Vydra (if he regains fitness), if not I guess Tecl/Sural though neither really deserves it. Dockal and Husbaur are very similar but I don't see both starting (unless Jarolim really is an idiot as that would be the least athletic midfield in history); one will start in a playmaker role most likely with Soucek and Jankto (or one of Sykora/Horava if they play Jankto on the left) also in the middle. Petrak could be a consideration as well.
It's not as bad as I thought it would be. Depth is pretty bad in midfield though. With no Barak or Darida, we look pretty poor there. Still I am looking forward to watching us again. It's been a long time.
Just took a look at Ukraine's roster, and definitely feel with the right tactics our team should be able to get a result even with the injuries... although, I don't really trust us to have the right tactics. They have some young talent, a lot of whom play together at Dynamo Kyiv, but overall aren't that formidable. Too bad the friendly with Russia is the 2nd match as we could use a chance to experiment a bit with the right temporary midfield.
Uherske Hradiste seems like a very random location for the Ukraine match, and probably around the time that the big wine festival there happens.
That is really close to where I grew up lol. There is nothing in that part of Czech. It's all vineyards with small towns.
I've actually been there once for the festival about 10 years ago, it was interesting and that area has a certain quaint charm. Slovacko's stadium is okay, but still a very minor/small venue for hosting a competitive international match.
Dockal left Philadelphia's match in the first half with an ankle injury. He could walk with minimum limp but wasn't mobile/secure enough to continue so hopefully it's minor.
Pavlenka had an even worse injury yesterday, was knocked unconscious during a collision. Jan Kopic also picked up a knock. So Dockal, Kopic, and Pavlenka have been dropped. Zmrhal, Tecl and Ondrej Kolar will be added. All remaining players should be packed in bubble wrap until the Ukraine match.
To be honest, the gap from Kopic to Zmrhal isn't so great in my opinion (I think Kopic is a bit more polished, but less athletic), but if it came down to Dockal and Husbauer then I wanted Dockal to start. While sort of similar player he's proven to be the more successful for the national team in the past. Tecl is fine, it was he or Sural for the 3rd striker and it would be hard to argue either is playing any better than the other. Either one is just depth behind Krmencik and Schick barring another wave of injuries .
Ukraine match is tomorrow, looking at what's left my lineup would probably be Vaclik - Kadeřábek, Kalas, Brabec, Gebre Selassie - Sýkora, Souček, Jankto, Zmrhal -Schick, Krmenčík I think with no Barak, Darida, or Dockal that Jankto should play in the middle to link with the attack. Instead of midfield play maker we play 2 strikers.
It's sounding likely that Gebre Selassie will be the captain with Suchy injured. That would suggest Jarolim plans for both he and Kaderabek to start.
Will one of them finally be shifted to left back? I've wanted that for years since both are quality players. Or we might see one of them at right mid since I believe Selassie has been playing that recently.
I would rather that one plays left back personally, but at this point it's hard to even say what formation we will play. I guess all will be revealed in about 2 hours.
The other option could be a back three of Gebre Selassie, Kalas, and Brabec, but I'd prefer the back four mentioned above. Appears the Slavia midfield trio of Soucek, Husbauer, and Sykora will all start, which makes sense. I'd like to see both Schick and Krmencik start together as well.
You called it. Takhle vypadá základní jedenáctka #ceskarepre pro úvodní duel Ligy národů proti Ukrajině 🇨🇿🇺🇦 ⚔ @FFUKRAINE 🏆 @UEFAEURO 🏟 Městský stadion Miroslava Valenty⏱ 20:45📺 @sportCT pic.twitter.com/OYOlfreBHS— Česká fotbalová reprezentace (@ceskarepre_cz) September 6, 2018