Czech Republic returns to a World Cup after 20 years: they beat Denmark on penalties

Czech Republic defeated Denmark in the penalties this Tuesday for the UEFA playoffs and qualified for the 2026 World Cup with failure. The match can be watch again through the Disney+ Premium Plan (only for South America).

Those led by Miroslav Koubek equalized 2-2 in extra time (1-1 in the 90′) and from the first step they won 3-1 with authority.

The Czech Republic will complete group A of the 2026 World Cup, along with Mexico, South Africa and South Korea.

This was the Czech Republic’s classification against Denmark

The Czechs had overturned a 0-2 home defeat against Ireland on Thursday to win on penalties, with Kovar dressed as a hero. This Tuesday he blocked one again, but this time his rival also helped, sending a shot to the crossbar and another very far away.

With more fight than game, The local team withstood the Danes’ push with order and sacrifice and knew how to take advantage of their chance.

Denmark only changed the center back Andersen, suspended in the previous match, in the eleven that had beaten North Macedonia. Koubek opted for three new faces, Soucek included, and to play with a line of five at the back.

Everything went up in the air in the 3rd minute. A poor clearance by the Danish defense was converted by Sulc to make it 1-0 with a shot from the edge of the area.

The Danes did not feel the blow, they responded immediately and accumulated up to half a dozen chances in twenty minutes to at least go to half-time with a tie. Højlund was involved in almost all of them.which the Czechs could not stop, especially in direct play.

But sometimes it was Kovar and other times the lack of precision in the last pass that prevented the tie.

The Czechs, who had no problem giving ground, threatened in a couple of very dangerous counters, both led by Sulc. But Provod narrowly missed a cross shot, as did another in a one-on-one against Hermansen after a tremendous pass from the Lyon attacker.

Denmark was deflating and finished the first half with bad feelingsstuck in attack and insecure at the back.

The panorama did not change in the second. The Danes had the ball, but they did not create danger. Højlund, with a header that went high, created the closest thing to an opportunity.

The Czechs were comfortable giving the ball to Denmark and letting time pass, with the game becoming increasingly tight.

When it looked worse, Damsgaard, who had not been too lucky until then, put a free-kick on the head of centre-back Andersenwho headed before the goalkeeper, who misjudged the exit.

Denmark was the only one looking for it, against a rival that seemed to suffer from the extra time five days ago and barely showed any signs of life in any Sulc or free kick attempts.

Mæhle, Damsgaard and Højlund were close to the goal that could have prevented added time, which the Czechs clung to, drawing strength to stand up against a Denmark that did not seem overmatched or did not dare to go for the game.

And based on courage, in a confusing move, Krejci picked up a rebound inside the six-yard box that bounced off Bah and ended in a goal.

Højbjerg had it just before halftime of the extra period, but he scored very wide.

Brian Riemer took a gamble by bringing in another striker, Kasper Høghfrom Bodø-Glimt, and the attacker of the miracle team in this year’s Champions League did his thing with a sensational header in another set piece play that rescued a team that already seemed desperate.

Until the penalties came, the Czech Republic became big and Denmark became smaller to lose a ticket to the World Cup that they had in their hand in the qualifying phase but they let it slip away with a draw at home against Belarus and a embarrassing defeat in Scotland.