{"id":1440321,"date":"2026-03-25T12:48:27","date_gmt":"2026-03-25T12:48:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?post_type=features&#038;p=1440321"},"modified":"2026-03-25T15:39:59","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T15:39:59","slug":"ireland-analysis-belief-world-cup-qualifier-czech-republic","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/ireland-analysis-belief-world-cup-qualifier-czech-republic\/","title":{"rendered":"World Cup analysis: Ireland have belief ahead of Czech Republic clash"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>The Republic of Ireland take on Czech Republic in Prague on Thursday night in their biggest game for over eight years. And with their hopes of a first World Cup qualification since 2002 on the line. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They shouldn&#8217;t really have a chance to reach the World Cup. The Boys in Green looked dead and buried after a dismal loss in Armenia. It was the latest in a long line of low points. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But Troy Parrott made himself a national hero in a four-day span in mid-November, sending Ireland from the doldrums to delight and delirium. It was a period to rival any in Irish sporting history. But that was four months ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-table-of-contents yoast-table-of-contents\"><h2>In this article, we&#8217;ll cover:<\/h2><ul><li><a href=\"#h-from-the-doldrums-to-even-more-delight\" data-level=\"2\">From the doldrums to even more delight?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-are-their-opponents-czeched-out\" data-level=\"2\">Are their opponents Czeched out?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-ireland-s-play-off-heartache-sets-the-stage\" data-level=\"2\">Ireland&#8217;s play-off heartache sets the stage<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-from-the-doldrums-to-even-more-delight\">From the doldrums to even more delight?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Now, Heimir Hallgrimsson and his team must go to the well again with North Macedonia or, more likely, old foes Denmark awaiting in a potential final in Dublin. Of course, if safe passage through Prague can be secured. And if Ireland can pull off consecutive away wins for the first time since 2012.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ireland&#8217;s wait for four consecutive games is even longer. Since 2007 to be precise. But there is more than just hope for the first time in a long while. The November wins breathed new life and belief into the team and the entire nation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The fact that they came with Seamus Coleman&#8217;s presence was no coincidence. And current captain Nathan Collins said as much when talking about his predecessor.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"article-page__title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/betting-sites\/tote-sign-up-offer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Tote<\/a> sign-up offer: Bet \u00a310, get \u00a330 in free bets<\/h2>\r\n<p><strong>Not signed up to Tote yet? Here's how eligible readers* can take advantage of their welcome offer:<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n<li>Open an account at Tote using\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/go\/totesport?q=gb-all-con-wof-s-spo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>this link<\/strong><\/a>.<\/li>\r\n<li>Use code B10G40 on registration.<\/li>\r\n<li>Deposit and place a \u00a310 bet on sports or racing at 1\/1 or greater.<\/li>\r\n<li>When it settles, unlock \u00a330 in free bets<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/go\/totesport?q=gb-all-con-wof-s-spo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-1423558 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/06\/12092632\/Screenshot-2026-01-12-092614-1024x301.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"301\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/06\/12092632\/Screenshot-2026-01-12-092614-1024x301.png 1024w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/06\/12092632\/Screenshot-2026-01-12-092614-300x88.png 300w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/06\/12092632\/Screenshot-2026-01-12-092614-768x225.png 768w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/06\/12092632\/Screenshot-2026-01-12-092614-1536x451.png 1536w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/06\/12092632\/Screenshot-2026-01-12-092614-400x117.png 400w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/06\/12092632\/Screenshot-2026-01-12-092614-600x176.png 600w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/06\/12092632\/Screenshot-2026-01-12-092614-204x60.png 204w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/06\/12092632\/Screenshot-2026-01-12-092614-150x44.png 150w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/06\/12092632\/Screenshot-2026-01-12-092614-40x12.png 40w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2024\/06\/12092632\/Screenshot-2026-01-12-092614.png 1802w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">#AD 18+ New customers online only. Eligibility restrictions apply. Bet min of \u00a3\/\u20ac10 at odds of 1\/1 (2.0) or greater across sports or racing (if EW then min \u00a3\/\u20ac10 Win + \u00a3\/\u20ac10 Place) within 7 days of registration. Receive \u00a3\/\u20ac20 Tote Credit and \u00a3\/\u20ac10 Free Sports Bet. Qualifying bet is the first racing pool or sports bet added to the bet slip. 7-day expiry. Full T&amp;Cs apply. Gambleaware.org.<\/p>\r\n<hr \/>\n\n\n\n<p>Coleman has only played 10 minutes for Everton since the win in Budapest due to a combination of injuries, age and international teammate Jake O\u2019Brien locking down the right-back spot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, there\u2019s little doubt the 37-year-old will start in Prague and likely last the distance &#8212; whether that&#8217;s 90 or 120 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ireland do have some other selection questions to answer. Evan Ferguson misses out again with another worrying injury &#8212; though his three goals in qualifying was cast into the shadows by Parrott&#8217;s heroics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>READ MORE:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/stat-spotlight-stats-you-might-see-international-break-march-2026\/#h-wales-vs-bonisa-herzegovina\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">International break stats and records you might see in March 2026<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Josh Cullen is also out after suffering an ACL injury over the festive period while Liam Scales \u2013 provider of two old-school headed assists in November \u2013 is suspended for Thursday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, changes will be made, and there is scope for a dream debut for Queens Park Rangers\u2019 Harvey Vale. But Ireland should be relatively confident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-are-their-opponents-czeched-out\">Are their opponents Czeched out?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There has been a lot of incompetence, corruption and chaos in Irish football governance over the past two decades. So it&#8217;s a welcome surprise that their opponents are also wrestling with similar issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Czech Republic ended their qualification campaign in turmoil with managed Ivan Hasek sacked following a shock defeat to the Faroe Islands that ended their hopes of automatic qualification.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Miroslav Koubek &#8212; a young 74 years old &#8212; has been drafted in for the potential of the fabled new manager bounce. The home supporters need something having been ignored by the players in their final qualifying game, which led to Tomas Soucek being stripped of the captaincy ahead of this clash. It&#8217;s unclear if he will even start. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Soucek is one of few recognisable names in the Czech side with Bayer Leverkusen\u2019s Patrick Schick the real star up front. There\u2019s also an ageing Vladimir Coufal and one-time Manchester United academy keeper Matej Kovar. Wolves defender Ladislav Krejci has taken on the armband. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th><strong>Year<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Ireland&#8217;s World Cup play-off results<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>1966<\/td><td>Spain 1-0 Ireland (one-off game)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>1998<\/td><td>Belgium 3-2 Ireland (aggregate)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2002<\/td><td>Ireland 2-1 Iran (aggregate)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2010<\/td><td>France 2-1 Ireland (aggregate)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2018<\/td><td>Denmark 5-1 Ireland (aggregate)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The mood around the camps could hardly be much different. But both countries are looking to end years of hurt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While Ireland\u2019s last World Cup appearance in 2002 is well-known for many reasons \u2013 even more so after the Saipan movie \u2013 Czech Republic\u2019s only appearance as an independent nation (post-1993) came four years later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is a surprise given they have qualified for every European Championship since, making the final in 1996 and the semi-finals in 2004.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-ireland-s-play-off-heartache-sets-the-stage\">Ireland&#8217;s play-off heartache sets the stage<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It makes for a change with play-off heartache part of Irish DNA. Elimination came in 1966, 1998, 2010 and 2018 with Thierry Henry\u2019s handball and Denmark\u2019s sack of the Aviva Stadium entrenched in the national psyche.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Their one and only World Cup play-off success was the last time they made it all the way. Tehran was the location. Just a bit topical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s all about Prague this week with Ireland looking to be the first side to beat Czech Republic there in nine years and 17 qualifiers. It\u2019s unlikely to be pretty or straightforward. It never is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What odds on more late magic from Parrott or Caoimhin Kelleher penalty shootout heroics? The nation holds its breath.<\/p>\n\n\n<h3><strong>Read more:<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/news\/\"><strong>Latest football news<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/football-tips\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Football betting tips<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/betting-sites\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Best betting sites<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/betting-sites\/best-free-bet-offers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Best free bet offers<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/football-tips\/accumulator\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Football accumulator tips<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Republic of Ireland take on Czech Republic in Prague on Thursday night in their biggest game for over eight years. And with their hopes of a first World Cup qualification since 2002 on the line. They shouldn&#8217;t really have a chance to reach the World Cup. The Boys in Green looked dead and buried&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3577,"featured_media":1440358,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_focuskw":"","_yoast_wpseo_title":"","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Chasing a first World Cup appearance since 2002, the Boys in Green must secure passage through Prague but there is more than hope for a change.","footnotes":""},"tags":[],"features-category":[],"squawka-category":[],"class_list":["post-1440321","features","type-features","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":{"external_featured_image_url":"","hide_featured_image_pattern":false},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.1 (Yoast SEO v27.1.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>World Cup analysis: Ireland have belief ahead of Czech Republic clash | Squawka | EN<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Chasing a first World Cup appearance since 2002, the Boys in 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Troy Parrott (2nd R) of Ireland celebrates with teammates after the FIFA World Cup 2026 European qualifiers football match between Hungary and Ireland in Budapest, Hungary, on Nov. 16, 2025. 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Troy Parrott (2nd R) of Ireland celebrates with teammates after the FIFA World Cup 2026 European qualifiers football match between Hungary and Ireland in Budapest, Hungary, on Nov. 16, 2025. 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