His engagement in Aris Thessaloniki benefits him. Defender Jakub Brabec closed the first season in Greece, he is a bit out there, but in the national team he confirms how well he got. He used to be often criticized, alternating between better and worse. He already played well in the March World Cup in Sweden. He emphasizes, shows confidence, manages defense. The tested system with three stoppers fits him, starts in the middle, has become a leader, stabilized performance.
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The defense under his command worked reliably. Mistakes would be found, for example, on Sunday he could foul Gavi, who slipped around him and started an action that ended in a goal. “I was wondering if I should stop him at the cost of a foul, but if I went into a slip, it might look even worse,” Brabec said.
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Today it was about productivity, but we have to praise the team for the whole meeting, the coach and the captain agreeVideo: Sport.cz, FACR
However, it did not change the fact that he had a successful meeting, at which he clearly strengthened his position. He played a full portion for 360 minutes. He saw up close how frustrated the Portuguese bomber Cristiano Ronaldo, for example, from the good work of the Czech defense.
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Squint developed a new system
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It is not true that the national team still plays the same and that it does not have a plan B. National team coach Jaroslav Šilhavý surprisingly tested the formation with three stoppers in March in the playoffs in Sweden and subsequently in a friendly match in Wales. He sensed that this game variant could work in duels against strong teams, so he tested it in all four matches in June, although he innovated it a bit. He added two midfielders and three players to the three stoppers and two halvbeks, who were already de facto acting as attackers.
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The testing yielded good knowledge. The Czech defense was solid, although its left part in particular showed shortcomings and problems. However, the Czechs did not play passively, they tried to be brave, which gave them a chance in every match. At home against Switzerland and Spain, they always scored twice, in the Iberian Peninsula matches against Portugal and again Spain failed in the end. There is a high presumption that Šilhavý will reach the next meeting in the autumn, when the basic groups of the League of Nations will culminate.
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Souček played everything. Why did Kalvach ride?
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The midfielder and captain of the national team, Tomáš Souček, is one of the busiest players in the world. He wants to play all the time, he played everything at the meeting. “Even if I had played a hundred matches this season and I received a nomination, I would come again. No club can match the national team, because it is simply special. If you do not want to join the national team, you should retire from the national team, “Souček said after the match in Spain.
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His devotion is admirable, his desire to embark at all costs just as well. On the other hand, in a calendar like this, he could get a break for one match. Lukáš Kalvach’s trial was offered. The honest midfielder is one of the key men of Pilsen, he helped to the title, he was in a good mood. Nevertheless, he was given a chance only seven minutes against Switzerland and thirteen in Spain, when he went on the field in a constellation that was clearly inclined to the side of the Spaniards.
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Obviously, much was subordinated to the result. But if Souček is ever to be missing in the future, the situation can be very unpleasant. In the middle of the advance, next to the iron fighter from West Ham, another tireless hard worker Michal Sadílek stepped in, who was injured against the Spaniards during the first half, replaced by Alex Král and survived.
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Kuchta flew out. Interplay with Schick is expected
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Patrik Schick is a world-class striker. With his absence, which always hurts, the national team had to fight in March and now, Jan Kuchta performed in the matches of the League of Nations. It is true that he pulled out especially in domestic matches against Switzerland and Spain, when he participated in all Czech goals. He gave two, one prepared for Jakub Pešek in the empty goal and in one goal he confused the movement of the Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer. He missed the Iberian Peninsula.
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Nevertheless, he proved how valid he can be. He is a jerk, annoying to his opponent, he can withstand an attack. Already during the meeting, the idea of the future flew several times, when he can cooperate in the offensive with Schick. “We can imagine that they will perform together,” said Šilhavý’s assistant Jiří Chytrý.
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Kuchta spent a difficult spring because he works in the Russian Lokomotiv Moscow. In a country that provoked a war in Ukraine, but football matures. He feels confident, growing. It is a question of what will happen in the summer. In the national team, Kuchta certainly wanted to attract someone to buy him out of Russia.
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Hložek looked tired
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There was a big mumraj around Adam Hložek. A few hours before the first match against Switzerland, his expected transfer from Sparta to Leverkusen was officially sealed. The 19-year-old offensive universal is excited about an important step in his life, but he did not succeed in the national team matches after the season. He didn’t take good action, he was more on the pitch. He didn’t have that much energy, he looked tired. It seemed to be too much for him. Before leaving for Leverkusen, he needs to rest and gain physical and mental strength.
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