They can manage domestically with them, but the lack of speed between Chory and Chytil is what will limit Slavia in Europe.
Holy shit. Group won and Pot 2 secured. If we qualify for the World Cup, it’ll be because of this win.
Just like with Albania, it took us our third try to beat Georgia. Not thrilled about having 34% possession at home to them and almost blowing it at the end, but this result was needed above all else. Top three for me are Hlozek, Kovar, and Cerv with Sulc in the mix too.
Hasek did nail the lineup changes though and confirmed he made the right choice opting for Kovar instead of Kinsky for now. Maybe an unpopular opinion, but I’d much rather have Kinsky sitting on the bench for the A team than playing for the U-21s. The reason we beat Belgium is because Belgium don’t care about wasting talents at the youth level if they’re clearly ready for their senior team. I don’t know, but I’d prefer Karabec or Jurasek over Lingr any day of the week.
Our group in the was fairly brutal considering there wasn't really any separation between the teams in quality (although, I guess thats the point of a Nations League group), Albania getting relegated and us promoted was the difference of a few key moments. Our makeshift defense did enough, but only just, so I won't comment take too much from that performance. Frankly this is about what our starting defense looked not long ago. If Schick can get back in form (although I'm wondering if this is just a decline from years of injuries...) then the trio of Hlozek, Schick and Sulc would be quite an attack. Midfield is where I see the most apparent problem, I think we need better passing through the middle Kovar is getting better, so hopefully that continues.
Overall, I’m satisfied with these last five games for now. The performances were generally positive (albeit the bar was so low after the Euros and Georgia defeat), so I’ll give Hasek and his staff credit for making the necessary adjustments, even if the formation change was long overdue. The home win against Albania is still the clear cut best performance from start to finish. All of the other games had prolonged periods of passive play after we either took the lead or were controlling play ourselves. And I’m already getting tired of Hasek always attributing our success to combativeness and fighting spirit. That’s great and all, but we still have some technical quality to showcase that’s instead being suppressed. This applies to the U-21s as well. We of course have our flaws, but the material is the best it’s been in the post-Bruckner era and I feel we’re selling ourselves a bit short with this same old defeatist attitude. I think it’s perfectly reasonable to be aiming to win our group if we draw any of Croatia, Switzerland, or Austria from Pot 1.
1859525482795954446 is not a valid tweet id More proof of why it was so important to beat Georgia the other day. It kind of feels like the stars may finally be aligning for us. We will avoid Scotland, Slovenia, and Georgia from Pot 3, the biggest threats in my opinion. We’re also technically less likely to draw France, Germany, Portugal, and Spain from Pot 1 as you’d assume they’ll advance in the Nations League. This has to be the most complicated draw format I’ve ever seen, but I’m not complaining so far.
Between the new "Group Stage" in the club competitions and this I feel like this is what the UEFA meetings have looked like in recent years.
So, right as I start to question if Schick's form will recover or this is that start of his decline, he netted a hat trick. Also, Hlozek scored 2 goals (both MOTM).
And yet there are Sport journalists claiming that Chory and Kliment should be our current #1 and #2 forward options… Krejci also scored his first goal for Girona and Cerny scored again for Rangers. Good day all around.
Chory and Kliment are rotation players, a 3 up front of Hlozek, Schick and Sulc is what I want to see.
That trio would be great. Add Cerny in the mix and there’s plenty of secondary scoring support so that Schick doesn’t have to single-handedly carry us anymore and can actually play alongside our other technical players. I also think Schick has lost a step after the injuries, but he’s still a luxury to have when healthy. He should be given the Rosicky treatment in my opinion where if he’s available, he starts and there’s no debate. Obviously, playing for Leverkusen and Alonso is quite different than having Hasek ask you to press relentlessly and wait for the ball to be hoofed up to you with nobody near to combine. That’s the real issue between Schick and the national team right now.