Czech footballers beat Georgia 2:1 at home in the final 6th round of the League of Nations. Coach Ivan Hašek’s wards won group B1 and advanced to the elite division A. The home team led 2-0 after goals from Pavel Šulec and Adam Hložek in the 24th minute, the opponent was only able to reduce the score after the change of sides thanks to Georges Mikautadze.
The Czech national team won for the first time in the third match against each other and avenged Georgia’s September 1:4 debacle in Tbilisi, which was its only defeat in the group. In addition to returning to the elite of the Nations League, the representatives have also won a more advantageous position in the game for the World Cup in 2026. A triumph in the group will very likely bring them the certainty of participation in at least the play-offs for the championship, where the top four winners of the Nations League who fail in the classic qualification. It will be drawn on December 13.
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Coach Hašek made three changes to the starting lineup compared to Saturday’s game in Albania, which ended goalless. Due to the punishment for two yellow cards, captain Souček and forward Chorý were absent, and they were replaced by Král and Kliment. Provod surprisingly started only on the bench, and Hložek played instead on the left wing.
The home team had an ideal start in front of a sold-out stadium. In the third minute, Hložek ran the ball on the left side, Kliment tapped it to Šulc with his foot and he opened the scoring with a ground shot. The Pilsen midfielder scored the third goal in his tenth start for the national team.
The Georgians could have responded in the 13th minute, but Ločošvili’s shot was blocked by goalkeeper Kovář. Halfway through the first half, Hložka’s big moment came. After a foul, Hoffenheim’s offensive all-rounder took advantage of the free kick behind the goal. He surprised the goalkeeper Mamardashvili with a sharp ground shot and scored his third goal for the national A-team in his 40th start.
After half an hour of the game, Jemelka got to the end from the center, but he did not beat the goalkeeper from close range on the right side and, just like with the chance in Albania, he did not get the first shot in the national team jersey. He could have reduced Kvaracchelija to half, but after a technical attack in the 43rd minute, his joy was spoiled by the post.
The Georgians were close to equalizing
The Napoli star didn’t make it even shortly after the break, when he crashed on the goalkeeper Kovář. In the 54th minute, Černý could have added a reassuring third goal on the opposite side, but Mamardashvili intervened. The home team regretted the unconverted chance all the more because the Georgians reduced the game after an hour. Kakabadze crossed from the right and Mikautadze beat Kovař at the front post from the first.
Hašek’s men were then able to secure their lead several times. Substitute Chytil was active, but did not make an impact even in the 83rd minute, when he failed to beat Mamardashvili from a wide angle.
The Georgians, who surprisingly drew 1:1 with the Czech Republic at the European Championship in the summer, were still in the game for a point gain and were not far from equalizing in the end. Substitute Zivzivadze, however, did not beat Kováře in the 89th minute or at the beginning of the setup with a smart foot. The Czech defense prevented the touchdowns in both cases.
The national team did not lose for the fifth time in a row and confirmed an excellent record at home, where they suffered the only defeat in the last 22 matches. In Olomouc, where he celebrated advancing to the European Championship last year, he won for the fourth time in a row.
