Czech journalists were optimistic about the match with Ukraine. First, Czech football has been on the rise in recent months (especially club football). Secondly, the Czech Republic had recently won against Ukraine. Therefore, the draw did not leave the best impression on the local media. Interestingly, Czech journalists, as well as fans, believe that the referee should not have awarded a penalty, because even on replays it is not clear whether Krejci really played with his hand. They were also silent about the fact that the referee should have stopped the game after Hutsulyak's collision with Soucek, calling it a game episode.
Idnes.
"I can't help but feel that Hasek's team could have won if not for that decision of the referee," the journalist of the Idnes website believes that the referee should not have awarded a penalty kick to the Czech Republic.
"From last place to first after three matches. Czech footballers lead their group in the League of Nations. In their fourth appearance in Wroclaw (Poland) this year, they drew with Ukraine with a score of 1:1. The Czechs won the first half thanks to a goal by Cerv, and shortly after the break, the opponent equalized, Dovbyk converting a penalty kick.
Albania's 1-0 victory over Georgia in the evening meant that if the Czechs get at least a point, they will go top of Group 1, ahead of Georgia and Albania, who they will face in November. Who could have expected this after the debut defeat in Georgia (1:4)... The winner will reach the elite level of the Nations League, the second team will reach the playoffs. Even in Wroclaw, they continued to improve their performance, especially in the first half, they were better and more dangerous than the opponent they beat 3-2 in Prague a month ago. Although the Ukrainians had the first clear chance, the Czechs scored the goal. This set the tone for the match.
The most controversial episode occurred in the second half. Krejci correctly put his body in front of Konoplya and threw the ball to the goalkeeper, but the referee saw that he helped himself with his hand. Even the video recording was not completely convincing, so the video assistant could not refute the referee's verdict on the field. And Dovbyk converted the penalty. After the game, all the Czech representatives were unhappy that the referee had awarded such a dubious 11-meter penalty, but it was impossible to fix it. A draw is also a decent result for the Czech Republic, but it does not leave the feeling that Hasek's team could have won if not for this decision of the referee."
iSport.cz
"A month ago, the Czech Republic hit rock bottom, and now it has become the favorite of the group," the journalist of the iSport.cz website admires the character of Ivan Hasek's team and is confident that the Czech national team is capable of reaching League A.
"Lukáš Červ has been a central character for a long time. The midfielder from Pilsen scored his first goal for the national team and celebrated accordingly. In the 18th minute, he scored from outside the penalty area just under the bar and ran a good sixty meters to the bench. It was a special moment. While Cerv was showing the thousands of yellow and blue fans and about a hundred Czech fans the emotions of maximum happiness, the rest of the players were not happy. After the previous collision with Soucek, Oleksiy Hutsulyak remained down. The half-empty Tarczynski Arena fell into silence.
The VAR made a decision - a goal! Unlike the second goal. Vityk was offside there. Gashek's team took the lead for the third game in a row. It is fair to say that it was well deserved. Mykhailo Mudryk stood out for the Ukrainians, but in the first half the visitors were confident. The second half was a mess, with a lot of fouls. But the teams didn't score any goals until the referee awarded a penalty for a handball. It wasn't that Krejci made a mistake, it was just an accident, but the referee was strict. A 1-1 draw is a decent result for the Czech Republic. And this, like Albania's victory in Georgia, which shuffles the cards in the group, is good news.
A month ago, the Czechs hit rock bottom, and now they are the favorites of the group. In Tbilisi, they obviously learned the necessary lesson. Most importantly, they got results. Monday's match was spoiled by some mistakes in defense, but compared to September and Euro 2024 in Germany, the difference in the quality of the game is huge.
A point on the road in a 1-1 draw guaranteed a top spot in the table. The last two matches of the year are scheduled for November: in Albania and in Olomouc with Georgia. Just hang in there, guys!"
Cesky Novyny
"Doubtful penalty saved Ukraine from defeat" - the journalist of the Cesky Novyny website is also sure that the referee should not have awarded the 11-meter penalty, as there is no certainty that Krejci played with his hand.
"Hasek's men failed to repeat Friday's 2-0 home win over Albania and failed to beat Ukraine for the second time after a 3-2 home triumph in September, but they did not lose for the third time in a row. They have one point more than Georgia and Albania, who they will face in the final matches in November. The winner of the group will go straight to the elite Division A, while the second team will play in the playoffs. The Nations League gives national teams an additional chance to compete for participation in top tournaments. The four best teams that failed the classic qualification will enter the playoffs for additional places at the World Cup.
Hasek made the only change in the starting lineup compared to Friday's match against Albania. Defender Krejci returned to the starting lineup. The Ukrainians also started with only one substitution compared to Friday's victory against Georgia, with Stepanenko returning to the field after an injury. A fairly large number of fans came to support the Ukrainians on a neutral field in Wroclaw, with the 45,000-seat stadium being about half full. Only a few hundred fans came to cheer on the Czech national team.
The Czechs scored the first goal. After a corner kick, Cerv scored with a powerful long-range shot, and Trubin did not even have time to react. The Victoria midfielder scored his first goal for the national team in the fourth game. Shortly before the goal, Hutsulyak collided with Soucek in the penalty area, and after medical intervention, he had to be replaced.
Five minutes after the change of sides, the Spanish referee awarded a penalty for Krejci's hand. Unfortunately for the Czech team, Dovbyk easily converted the 11-meter shot. This year, Hasek's team failed to score for the tenth time out of 11 games.
Both teams tried to snatch the victory, but to no avail. In the final match, no more goals were scored, and even after the seventh match, the teams have an equal balance: two wins, two losses and three draws.
After the final whistle, representatives of the Czech national team were dissatisfied with the work of the referees. Krejci said he did not feel the ball touch his hand. Hasek said that such 11-meter penalties should not be awarded. A dubious penalty saved Ukraine from defeat, but even this did not prevent the Czech Republic from taking first place in the group."
Orest Petruskiv
