World Cup’s oldest coach to spearhead ‘unyielding’ Czechs
PRAGUE: At 74, Miroslav Koubek will be the oldest coach at the 2026 World Cup, leading a Czech Republic team with few stars that he hopes will be “united, unyielding and determined.”
His goal will be to reach the play-offs from a Group A that also comprises Mexico, South Africa and South Korea.
“The group is extremely tough, also because of the climate we will face,” Koubek, a serious-looking man who occasional flashes a smile, told reporters.
The Czechs will play against South Korea in the Mexican city of Guadalajara, against South Africa in the southern US city of Atlanta and then co-hosts Mexico in Mexico City.
“Our goal is to reach the play-offs. That would be a success,” Koubek added.
The Czech Republic have not missed a single Euro tournament since becoming an independent country in 1993, but this World Cup will be only their second since then, following a speedy exit from the 2006 tournament.
They secured qualification after two nerve-wracking play-off games at home against Ireland and Denmark, winning both on penalties after focusing largely on defence.
Koubek brushed dignity aside when he let the team toss him in the air to celebrate after the Denmark game, before facing the cameras with tear-stained eyes and assuming the mantle of the tournament’s elder statesman.
“I have heard that Curacao coach Dick Advocaat is not going, he has stepped down, so I’ll be the oldest one. So what?” Koubek said after the Czechs secured qualification.
He admitted he partied “until the morning” after the game.
“I’m no drinker but I like to have two or three beers when there’s an opportunity,” added Koubek, whose greatest coaching success is the 2015 Czech title with Viktoria Plzen (Pilsen), based in a city known as the home of the Pilsner lager.
But that was an exception as his rules include “discipline, both on the pitch and in private, and giving absolutely everything in the game.”
– ‘A refreshing change’ –
Koubek, a former Sparta Prague goalkeeper, built his coaching reputation slowly before winning the Czech title with Plzen at age 63.
In 2016-2018 he served as an assistant coach with the national team which failed to qualify for World Cup 2018.
Having returned to Plzen, he led Viktoria to the Conference League quarter-finals in 2024.
He took over the national team this year after a humiliating 2-1 loss to Faroe Islands and a 5-0 trashing by Croatia in the World Cup 2026 qualifying campaign.
Hailing the new job as “a refreshing change”, Koubek said he needs to “see everything myself and make my own opinion.”
But he faces a tough challenge at the helm of a team where just a handful of players ply their trade in Europe’s top leagues.
– ‘No tiki-taka’ –
Two played in the Premier League this season – Ladislav Krejci at Wolverhampton and Tomas Soucek at West Ham.
Two have stood out elsewhere with Leverkusen striker Patrik Schick scoring 16 goals in the Bundesliga this season, and Lyon midfielder Pavel Sulc notched 11 in Ligue 1.
Most of the rest are from Czech champions Slavia Prague and their arch-rivals and runners-up Sparta Prague.
“From day one I will remind the boys that we’re not just going to take part. We won’t be there just to have fun,” Koubek said.
He added he would like to improve the playing style compared with the defensive play-off tactics.
“We have a vision. But don’t think we’re going to play tiki-taka, we just can’t do that.”
Just after the Czechs qualified, media predicted they will reach the World Cup knockout stage.
Koubek waved the prognosis aside: “I wouldn’t mind, but I don’t take it too seriously. The truth lies on the pitch.”
“Besides, the computers churning out these forecasts have got it totally wrong. Although they could be right for once this time.” – AFP
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المصدر: New Straits Times