Michal Sadilek’s successful penalty secured the Czech Republic’s place at the World Cup after they defeated Denmark in a dramatic shootout in Prague on Tuesday. The match ended 2-2 after extra time, leading to the decisive penalty kicks. This marks the Czech Republic’s first World Cup appearance since 2006, where they will compete in Group A alongside Mexico, South Africa, and South Korea in the tournament hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico this June and July.
During the shootout, Tomas Chory and Tomas Soucek also converted their penalties, while Czech captain Ladislav Krejci’s attempt was saved by Danish goalkeeper Mads Hermansen. For Denmark, Christian Eriksen was the sole successful penalty taker. Rasmus Hojlund struck the crossbar, Anders Dreyer was denied by Czech goalkeeper Matej Kovar, and Mathias Jensen’s shot went over the crossbar.
Reflecting on the victory, Krejci expressed his overwhelming joy, acknowledging that although the Czech team was not the stronger side, their determination and fighting spirit made the difference. Wolverhampton defender Krejci admitted to being emotional, thanking the players for their efforts. Czech coach Miroslav Koubek, 74, described the win as a hard-fought achievement, praising the team’s resilience and commitment throughout the match.
The game began with a swift goal from Pavel Sulc for the Czech Republic, who volleyed the ball into the top corner just three minutes in after Denmark cleared a corner. Denmark equalized in the 72nd minute when Mikkel Damsgaard’s free kick found Joachim Andersen, who headed the ball in. Krejci then restored the Czech lead in the 100th minute, capitalizing on a goalmouth scramble following Vladimir Coufal’s cross, with his shot deflecting off Danish defender Alexander Bah into the net.
Denmark responded once more in the 111th minute when substitute Kasper Hogh headed in a corner from Eriksen, leveling the score again. Earlier in the play-offs, the Czech Republic had advanced by beating Ireland on penalties, while Denmark had comfortably defeated North Macedonia 4-0. However, Denmark struggled to break down the Czech defense in this match, as the hosts adopted a defensive strategy after their early goal, often defending with ten men.
Denmark’s Rasmus Hojlund had a low shot saved by Kovar, who also forced Gustav Isaksen’s curling free kick over the bar. The Czech side threatened on counterattacks, with Lukas Provod forcing Hermansen to make a save. Despite Denmark’s persistent pressure and multiple attempts, Kovar’s goalkeeping proved crucial, while the Czech team frequently cleared the ball under pressure.
Denmark will miss their first World Cup since 2014, while the Czech Republic will make only their second appearance as an independent nation since the split with Slovakia in 1993. Their previous World Cup campaign in 2006 featured stars like Petr Cech, Pavel Nedved, Tomas Rosicky, Karel Poborsky, and Jan Koller, but they exited after the group stage.
This qualification is considered a surprising success for the Czech team, who faced difficulties during the qualification process, including a coaching change just before the play-offs amid criticism from fans and analysts. Notably, long-time captain Soucek was stripped of the armband before the play-offs following a disappointing 2-1 loss to the Faroe Islands in October, which upset supporters.
Coach Koubek emphasized the growing belief within the team that they could achieve this goal, describing the qualification as a collective effort and an outstanding accomplishment. He expressed sincere happiness for the team’s achievement, highlighting the unity and determination that led to their success.
