“We are facing a match like the final of the World Cup. And we are preparing for it accordingly. We believe we have the quality to succeed,” said head coach Santi Denia.
The Czech national football team faces Croatia in Osijek in a decisive Nations League fixture on Tuesday, needing a victory to secure a spot in pot one for the Euro 2028 qualifying draw. Denia’s squad arrives in Croatia carrying a five-match losing streak in the elite tier of the competition, yet a path to survival remains open.
While a win guarantees pot-one status, a draw or even a defeat could still suffice to avoid relegation depending on results in matches involving Serbia and Turkey, [sport.cz] reported. Last September, Croatia claimed a 2-1 victory in Prague, though a strong second-half surge from the Czech side demonstrated they can threaten the hosts.
Czech players miss the match through suspension and illness
The Czech coaching staff must manage several roster absences ahead of kick-off. Captain Ladislav Krejčí is suspended following a red card against Spain, while Lukáš Provod, Martin Šubert, and Štěpán Chaloupek departed the squad before departure due to illness, [isport.blesk.cz] reported. Despite his suspension, Krejčí traveled with the team to Croatia and will watch the match from the stands.
“The international break lasts a week, the player is with us. It’s a national team, not a club,” Denia explained to [isport.blesk.cz] regarding the decision to keep the Wolverhampton player with the group rather than sending him back to England.
“Krejjda is the captain and the support for all the others. The young and new players listen to him, he is a role model for them,” added Denia, as cited by [isport.blesk.cz]. To cover the depleted ranks, Plzeň center-back Filip Prebsl and Sparta winger Matěj Jurásek joined the team on short notice.
Player Focus in Croatia
Offensive player Adam Hložek reported feeling fit and ready despite the tight turnaround between fixtures. “I feel good. Luckily I’m not a sore loser,” Hložek told [isport.blesk.cz].
“We didn’t have that much time to recover, but we’re used to it from the club. We’ll go enjoy the match and handle it,” added Hložek, according to [isport.blesk.cz].
The team arrived at their hotel following a flight to Croatia, turning their focus toward video analysis and tactical preparation for the stadium where Ivan Hašek’s side suffered a 1-5 defeat a year prior.
Where the match is played and squad updates
Where is the match between Croatia and the Czech Republic played?
The fixture takes place at the modern stadium in Osijek, Croatia.
What do the Czechs need to secure pot one for Euro 2028 qualifying?
The team must win against Croatia to guarantee a spot in the first pot for the qualification draw.
Which players joined the squad late as replacements?
Filip Prebsl and Matěj Jurásek were added to the roster on short notice following injuries and illnesses in the team.
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