Both Czech Republic and Wales will be aiming for a win when they lock horns at the Eden Arena in Prague on Friday in an exciting Group E fixture of the UEFA World Cup qualifiers with kickoff at 21:45.
The teams are on level in points with the Czechs just ahead due to their superior goal difference and will battling for the second spot in this match hence we expect a close a fight and no surprise if their end up sharing the spoils.
Both sides were at the Euros and both got past the group stages with Czech Republic excelling by managing to go through to the quarter finals where they met Denmark who were to hot handle for the Czechs who surrendered to a 2-1 defeat. However, Jaroslav Silhavy’s men responded well by bouncing back with a 1-0 win in their last month’s first world cup qualifying fixture before crumbling to 3-0 at the hands of Belgium who were just too strong for the Czechs.
Now the Czechs head into the match off a 1-1 draw with Ukraine in an international friendly and are in a below average form having just won two of their last six matches across all competitions while recording three defeats and a draw. However, they are in a good home form as they have not lost in any of their last six home matches and Silhavy will want his side to keep their home momentum as they aim to keep their second spot.
Meanwhile Wales couldn’t make it to the quarter finals of the Euros as they were eliminated with a humiliating 4-0 defeat to Denmark in the round of 16 but the Wales responded well as they bounced back with a three-match unbeaten run, claiming a 0-0 draw against Finland in an international friendly before defeating Belarus with a 3-2 away win in their first September World Cup qualifying fixture.
Robert Page’s side then proceeded to record another clean sheet in the 0-0 draw against Estonia and now they head into the match in an average form having won two, drawn two and lost two of their last six matches across all competitions.
Indeed, it’s a must-not-lose game for Wales as anything other than a win will put them at a huge disadvantage in the race for a play-off spot behind the runaway group leaders Belgium.
Czech Republic vs Wales head to head
Both sides have met in three encounters since 2006 with both claiming a win while the other match ended in a draw.
- Wales 1-0 Czech Republic 30/03/21
- Wales 0-0 Czech Republic 02/06/07
- Czech Republic 2-1 Wales 02/09/06
Home
- Czech Republic 1-1 Ukraine
- Belgium 3-0 Czech Republic
- Czech Republic 1-0 Belarus
- Czech Republic 1-2 Denmark
- Netherlands 0-2 Czech Republic
Away
- Wales 0-0 Estonia
- Belarus 2-3 Wales
- Finland 0-0 Wales
- Wales 0-4 Denmark
- Italy 1-0 Wales
Czech Republic team news
Czech Republic will be without key players including Vladimir Coufal, Lukas Masopust, Petr Sevcik and Jan Boril who have all withdrawn from the squad.
Wales team news
Wales will be without they main man and captain Gareth Bale who is nursing an injury. However, good news for the visitors is that Aaron Ramsey and Kieffer Moore who both missed last month’s fixtures are back to the squad.
Prediction and odds
- Draw
- Double chance
- Wales win
