Both Czech Republic and Belarus will be looking to bounce back to winning ways when they lock horns in their group E match of 2022 World Cup qualifiers at Vitkovice Arena in Ostrava on Thursday with kickoff at 21:45.
Czech Republic return to international football this week for the first time since they were eliminated from the Euros at the quarter-final round and will be heading into the match looking to channel some of their performances at the Euros into the Thursday’s clash as they aim to qualify for their first World Cup since 2006.
The Czechs surprised many during the Euro 2020 with their impressive campaign, progressing all the way to the quarter-finals. They managed to sneak through from Group D as one of the four best third-placed teams and proceeded to knockout Netherlands out of the Euros in the round of 16 with an Impressive 2-0 win but eventually their journey was cut short by a 2-1 defeat in the hands of Denmark in the last eight.
Jaroslav Silhavy should be proud of his side’s efforts in the Euros and will be expecting a similar success during their World Cup qualifiers as they battle for the second spot with Wales in Group E. Group E comprises of Belgium who are the top with seven points, Czech Republic come in second with four points while Wales occupies the third spot with three points same as Belarus who come in fourth and Estonia are the bottom with 0 points.
The Czechs will fancy their chances and should be confident of bouncing back with three points as they face Belarus who have never won a match against them in their last four meetings with the Czechs scoring at least twice in each meeting.
Meanwhile Belarus have been struggling lately as they have managed only one win in their last five matches across all competitions. Georgi Kondratiev’s side had contrasting start to the world cup qualifiers having strongly won one match and lost one disastrously.
They opened with a 4-2 victory against Estonia before being whooped 8-0 by the world’s top ranked side Belgium which was the heaviest defeat in History of Belarus. The visitors have never competed in a major tournament since attaining the independence in 1991 and they would like to cause an upset and finish in the top two, which means they have to claim all the three points in this match which is unlikely but will hope that they can at least put up more of a fight than they did against Belgium.
Czech Republic vs Belarus head to head
Both sides have met four times since 1995 with Czech Republic winning in all occasions. Belarus are yet to record a win against their hosts.
- Belarus 1-3 Czech Republic 06/09/03
- Czech Republic 2-0 Belarus 16/10/02
- Belarus 0-2 Czech Republic 07/10/95
- Czech Republic 4-2 Belarus 29/03/95
Home
- Czech Republic 1-2 Denmark
- Netherlands 0-2 Czech Republic
- Czech Republic 0-1 England
- Croatia 1-1 Czech Republic
- Scotland 0-2 Czech Republic
Away
- Belarus 1-2 Azerbaijan
- Belgium 8-0 Belarus
- Belarus 4-2 Estonia
- Belarus 1-1 Honduras
- Albania 3-1 Belarus
Czech Republic team news
Silhavy named a 20-man squad with Tomas Soucek and Toma Holes included while Patrick Schick will miss out as he is suspended and Petr Sevcik and Lukas Masopust have not been called to the squad.
Belarus team news
Kondratiev has named his 24-man squad includind the likes of Maksim Skavysh, Vitali Lisakovich and Vladislav Klimovich.
Prediction and odds
- Czech Republic to win
- Goals under 2.5
- Both sides to score (no)
