The Czech football players did not win the first place at the European Championships and the big event. Coach Karel Rada’s charges lost the playoffs with Switzerland to a 2: 3 penalty in the outdoor retaliation. Kateřina Svitková opened the score in Thun in the 51st minute, and Coumba Sowová equalized in eight minutes.
The Czech players did not advance to the European Championship or to the third attempt, although this time they were closest to the premiere start at the final tournament. In both previous playoff participations in 2005 and 2009, they were not enough for Italy.
The revenge, which was played in Thun on artificial grass, had a similar course as the opening match in Chomutov. Soon after the goalless first half, Rad’s charges struck after 51 minutes after Svalková overcame Thalmannova with a shot from behind the lime under the crossbar. West Ham’s midfielder and the best Czech player of the year also opened the score in the first match, in which she changed the penalty two minutes earlier.
Favored Swiss in retaliation even earlier than in Chomutov. The substitute Sowová was on the lawn for about three minutes, when she got behind the defense and sent the ball to the abandoned goal at the edge of the lime around the running goalkeeper Votíková.
The Swiss dominated the rest of the second act, similarly to the first duel, but did not create much of a chance and the match was extended. In its second part, from a direct kick, Svitková hit the upper part of the crossbar.
The Czechs hit the goal construction twice in a decisive penalty shootout. The penalty kicks were well played, as the first two Swiss executors failed. In the fourth series, however, Martínková, with the help of the goalkeeper, hit only the bar and Svitková then only the crossbar.
The Czech team was unable to repay the Swiss team with two high defeats from the previous European qualification. The selection of the Helvetic Cross can look forward to the second participation in the Euro in a row, the championship will be hosted by England next year.
Rad’s team in the last qualifying group finished in second place behind the Spaniards and did not fit into the three directly advancing teams from second places.
Retaliation match of the playoff qualification for promotion to the European Football Championship in Thun:
Switzerland – Czech Republic 1: 1 (1: 1, 0: 0), on penalties 3: 2
Goals: 59. Sowová – 51. Svitková. Penalties changed: Lehmannová, Waltiová, Crnogorcevicová – Krejčiříková, Bertholdová. Not changed: Gutová, Sowová – Bartoňová, L. Martínková, Svitková. First match: 1: 1, Switzerland advanced.
Czech Republic: Votíková – Petříková, Bertholdová, Sonntagová, Bartoňová – K. Dubcová (64. Krejčiříková), L. Martínková, Svitková, Cahynová (109. Pochmanová), Szewieczková (84. Černá) – Stašková (101. Mrázová). Coach: Rada.
– .