“Dynamo ČB prepares for MOL Cup semi-final against Sparta: A chance to make history”

When he recently drove home from Budějovice to Strakonice, he replayed it in his head. “There was a piece missing and we would have rewritten history. We really wanted to win the penalties, but maybe it all got to us,” says Křížek about the memorable cup semi-final in Jablonec.

“During my career, I’ve licked the cream many times, but unfortunately it didn’t work out today,” regretted the then Budejovice boss Karel Poborský after the match, who hit the post and sent the ball over the crossbar in the shootout. “I caught one penalty for Milan Fukal, but it wasn’t enough. From we missed two out of four attempts and were eliminated. The disappointment was all the greater because thanks to a combination of circumstances, even the defeated finalist went to the cups at that time,” explains Křížek.

In the second preliminary round of the then UEFA Cup, Jablonec defeated Austria Vienna, which would be an attractive draw from Budějovic’s point of view. “It would be a holiday for the club and the fans, we are not far from Vienna,” muses Křížek. “However, it’s not worth dealing with now, especially when we have a new chance.”

Dynamo easily managed the round of 16 with Hradec Králové and the quarterfinals with Brno, and on Wednesday at Letná they will meet a hungry Sparta, which has not yet lost in the spring. “We wanted to play at home again, but maybe we’ll come back to us for the final,” smiles Křížek. “We’re not the favorite and we know well about Sparta’s spring series, but someone has to end it. Why not us?”

Dynamo has had an unsuccessful campaign, on Saturday they were beaten 1:5 by the then bottom team Zlín. “This is exactly the kind of case where you have to forget right away. It would be pointless to discuss it further, the matches follow quickly,” notes Křížek, who plays for Dynamo’s young goalkeeper pair Martin Janáček (22) & Dávid Šípoš (24).

“Five goals in Zlín were unpleasant for Šípi, but I did not criticize him. After such a result, it is understandably difficult to praise the goalkeeper, on the other hand, he missed a few more chances. Every such experience will move the boys: they are young and learn with every goal,” says Křížek. “It can also help them that we don’t have a strictly designated number one and two, so the boys have to work hard at every training session and wait to see if they get a chance. I know, I’ve been a substitute for half my career. Anyway, they’re both well set up and I enjoy working with them.”

A glimpse into history: Dynamo reached the final of the Czech Cup twice, back in the era of Czechoslovakia. In 1985, it shocked as a second league sensation with teenager Jiří Němec, later captain of the national team, and lost to Dukla in the final. Six years later, even a two-goal advantage over Baník was not enough for Budějovice, who won 4:2. By the way, today’s assistant Jiří Lerch was there at that time.

Now there’s another big match. And again with Křížek, who has been in Dynamo since he was thirteen. In addition to him, two other veterans of the cup semi-final from 2007 take care of the team: assistant Jiří Kladrubský and manager of A team Ivo Táborský. “Tábor talks about the cup every other day. The final at home, the screen on the square, a big event for the entire region,” Křížek describes with a smile. “So far it’s just an exaggeration and a dream, but maybe it will come true for us.”