What was it?
The match began like a pub brawl spilling onto the pavement. Ireland went two goals up inside 23 minutes. Troy Parrott converted a penalty, and Matěj Kovář fumbled a high ball over his own line. The pre-match computer model had confidently predicted a cautious, set-piece stalemate. Instead, the crowd in Prague suffered a collective nervous breakdown. Patrik Schick scored a penalty for the hosts just four minutes later to calm the panic.
From there, the referee pocketed his cards and allowed a street fight. The teams committed 39 fouls but received only three bookings. Ireland retreated into their own half and relied on clearing lines. Czechia spent the second period hammering at the front door. They introduced Tomáš Souček at the interval to sweep up loose balls. The pressure finally told in the 86th minute when Ladislav Krejčí converted a cross from close range.
The penalty shootout delivered a brutal piece of human theatre. Kovář stopped two Irish attempts to win the tie. The man who started the night dropping the ball into his own net finished it on the shoulders of his teammates. Ireland leave the tournament with bruised ribs, while the hosts survive another week.
From there, the referee pocketed his cards and allowed a street fight. The teams committed 39 fouls but received only three bookings. Ireland retreated into their own half and relied on clearing lines. Czechia spent the second period hammering at the front door. They introduced Tomáš Souček at the interval to sweep up loose balls. The pressure finally told in the 86th minute when Ladislav Krejčí converted a cross from close range.
The penalty shootout delivered a brutal piece of human theatre. Kovář stopped two Irish attempts to win the tie. The man who started the night dropping the ball into his own net finished it on the shoulders of his teammates. Ireland leave the tournament with bruised ribs, while the hosts survive another week.