Sports
THE Czech Republic will return to Wembley on Oct. 6, 30 years after the venue hosted one of the most memorable moments in the country’s football history.
The Czech team will face England twice in Nations League Group A3, first in Prague on Tuesday before travelling to London for the return fixture.
The Wembley encounter comes three decades after the Czech Republic reached the final of Euro 96, where they lost to Germany under the old stadium’s famous twin towers.
Euro 96 was the first European Championship contested by the Czech Republic after the dissolution of Czechoslovakia into the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
The Czech team entered the tournament as outsiders, with several players still playing in the domestic league.
Some members of the squad had even made holiday plans for after the group stage, while midfielder Vladimir Smicer was scheduled to get married.
Former Czech international Patrik Berger recalled that his Borussia Dortmund teammate Jurgen Kohler, who was in the Germany squad, did not initially know the Czechs were participating.
The Czech Republic lost their opening match 2-0 to Germany at Old Trafford but responded with a 2-1 victory over Italy at Anfield.
A 3-3 draw with Russia, secured by Smicer’s late equaliser, was enough to send the Czechs through to the quarter-finals after Italy drew 0-0 with Germany.
In the quarter-finals, Karel Poborsky scored a memorable lob from outside the penalty area as the Czech Republic defeated Portugal 1-0 at Villa Park.
They then drew 0-0 with France in the semi-final at Old Trafford before winning 6-5 on penalties.
Berger, Poborsky and future Ballon d’Or winner Pavel Nedved were among the Czech players who converted their penalties.
“It was an amazing feeling. An amazing moment for the country,” Berger said in an interview with the BBC Sporting Witness podcast.
“To get to the final was kind of like a miracle for everyone.”
Two days before the final, Smicer travelled to Prague to marry his fiancée before returning to England the same day.
The Czech Republic then faced Germany in the final at Wembley, taking the lead in the 59th minute through Berger’s penalty.
Berger said he was not originally expected to take the spot-kick but stepped forward after noticing that his teammates appeared reluctant.
“I could see nobody really wanted to take the ball,” he said.
His penalty put the Czech Republic on course for a historic victory, but Germany equalised through Oliver Bierhoff 14 minutes later.
Bierhoff then scored again in extra time to register the first golden goal in a major tournament final and give Germany the European title.
Despite the defeat, Berger said the silver medal represented a significant achievement for the Czech team.
“It wasn’t meant to be. I’d love to be European champion, but silver for us was like a gold because it opened doors to so many of us,” he said.
Berger added that the tournament also helped open opportunities for the next generation of Czech players.
He himself moved to Liverpool after Euro 96, while thousands of Czech supporters welcomed the team home in Prague after the tournament.
Thirty years later, the Czech Republic will return to Wembley for another meeting with England, this time in the Nations League.
M.P
Tags: Czech Republic