Vladimir Coufal is cautiously optimistic for the Czech Republic in Euro 2020, but is wary of facing West Ham teammate Declan Rice and England in the final Group D clash. All eight Group D matches will take place in the UK handing both England and Scotland a huge home advantage over Czech Republic and Croatia, and Coufal is well aware of the task facing his country.
Vladimir Coufal said: “It’s a very difficult group. We’ve got two games away against England and Scotland. Croatia are strong as well.”
Coufal and his Czech teammates can take some confidence from past performances against the Three Lions and in England. The last clash between Gareth Southgate’s team and the Czech Republic took place in 2019 and ended in a 2-1 win to the home side in Prague, revenge for the Czech’s 5-0 hammering they took at Wembley.
Vladimir Coufal said: “We respect the successes of the past, particularly the team of 1996, but football has progressed so much since then. We want to achieve similar success but it’s a long, hard journey. Football has progressed since 2004, not much — but it has still changed.”
The 28-year-old said his team have a style of play that has been a success for them recently and they will not veer away from it despite the heavy 4-0 loss to Italy in their final pre-tournament friendly.
Vladimir Coufal added: “I don’t want to reveal our plans ahead of the Euros but I think people can see the way we play. We’re big on ball possession and we’re not afraid to take risks, which is necessary against the big teams. Against Italy, it didn’t really work. That result was one slap but it won’t delete the three years of work we’ve been trying to do with the coaches. We do not want drastic changes to our tactics.”
Coufal is one of a number of English-based players in the Czech squad and he believes this is of benefit to the team ahead of the clash against Southgate’s team.
Vladimir Coufal said: “Of course it is important for us that we know players from England. Not only me and Tomas (Soucek), but also Matej Vydra, who plays in the Premier League. I think we will discuss with coaches before these matches what to do. Me and Declan talked about these matches we are going to play. But I have to say that England as a team are very strong. They are incredible. They are one of the favourites for the win. In our match against them we need to do our best and surprise people at Wembley.”
