The UEFA World Cup Qualifiers play-off final, held on April 1st, saw the Czech Republic narrowly defeat Denmark 5-3 in a penalty shootout after a hard-fought battle, securing their place in this summer's World Cup. In the post-match interview, Czech coach Koubek was moved to tears.
The match ended after midnight, and Koubek sat in front of the press center at the Letná Stadium, savoring a major achievement in his life – he is the first coach in twenty years to lead the Czech Republic back to the World Cup. The penalty shoot-out victory over Denmark and this long-awaited success also brought him to tears. "I am very happy," he confessed.
How do you feel after achieving the pinnacle of your career?
"Not exactly tears streaming down my face, but my eyes were definitely a little wet. You're right, this is my greatest sporting achievement, perhaps even a life achievement. I am very happy. Thanks to the players, the entire training camp, both matches were excellent. Our belief grew stronger. This is exactly the performance and atmosphere I was hoping for when I joined the national team. Thank you to the fans, we couldn't have done it without them, especially today. Everyone worked together – thanks to the coaching team, they did a great job in creating a team atmosphere. Without them, none of this would have been possible. This is our collective effort, an important achievement for Czech football, and I am genuinely happy."
You mentioned igniting the team's passion when you took office, how did you do it?
"That's a difficult question to answer. The key was during the winter club training, we had face-to-face communication with every player who might be selected, openly discussing what they liked and disliked, and their views on the national team. Their feedback was very strong. They themselves admitted that they hadn't done enough or been coordinated enough before. We emphasized a new era, a new chapter, unity, no egoism, and no pettiness.
We went down a different path. I told the players that if we couldn't do it, it would mean that this generation would be wasted, and we needed to put an end to the Czech Republic's 20-year absence from the World Cup today.We don't have superior technique to our opponents. We were tested in the match against Denmark, but we played with our strengths. As long as we convene full effort, running, aggression, and tactical execution, we have a chance to win."
What was the difference compared to the match against Ireland?
"In that match, we didn't do well tactically at all, we were suppressed by Ireland's style of play, panicked, and played cautiously. It wasn't easy against Denmark either, they have excellent ball control. But we executed our plan from the start, pressing high, although we couldn't maintain it throughout the match. Then there was Plan B, attacking through a dense central area. The focus was on defense and set pieces, we scored two goals from set pieces, but also conceded two, which I regret."
Did you believe you could win two penalty shootouts in a row?
"We believed we could do it. We did a lot of penalty training, but I would never dare to be completely sure. Penalties are different from regular games, more like a lottery, like hitting a target with a gun at a fair. Those who take it seriously are often rewarded. In the penalty, we discussed mental states, and also gave the players some encouragement and information."
What did you say to Chairman David Tronda and Manager Pavel Nedvěd after the match?
"There were many congratulations, but I don't attribute these to myself personally, it's always the result of collective effort. As head coach, the tension I felt on the bench was similar to that of the players on the field. The penalty shootout was very draining, I'm a bit tired, but I'll recover at night (laughs)."
How important is captain Krejci?
"His leadership style is excellent, I know him very well. Souček also performed well, but we decided not to change the captain's armband. Krejci wearing the armband seems to be the right choice."
Will Vladimir Darida be selected for the World Cup?
"This is up to him to decide, we have reached a consensus. You may not know his contribution to the locker room, he is an important pillar of the team."
What specific role does he play in the team?
"His rich national team experience gives him prestige in the locker room. What he says carries a lot of weight and is of great help to the team."
You will become the oldest coach to coach at a World Cup in history, what does this mean to you?
"I originally thought I was only second after our success. But Advocaat (who last coached Curaçao) has left and won't be going. I feel very honored, it's a well-deserved respect. Someone always has to be the oldest, and that's me (laughs)."
Is the tournament in the United States a life challenge for you?
"There are about 150 messages on my phone, sent by people around me. I'll celebrate with the players first. After a short break, I have scheduled a minor health surgery. But don't worry, I'll go to Mexico, I plan to vacation there, and also accompany my wife. Before accepting this invitation, we planned a spring trip, now we have to turn our attention to the World Cup, including studying opponents and camp preparation (possibly in Mexico), we are actively preparing, but I initially wanted to focus on the play-offs first."