Poland vs Czechia
Experience the full replay and exciting highlights of the thrilling clash between Poland and Czechia. The game kicked off at 19:45 (GMT) on 17th November 2023 at Stadion Narodowy, with the experienced referee D. Orsato in charge. Witness the intense action of this Europe – UEFA European Championship Qualifiers, Group E, Season 2024 matchup. Don’t miss out on the drama and excitement of this epic battle.
Poland vs Czechia Full Match Reports
The Czech Republic inched closer to their eighth consecutive appearance at the European Championship finals with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Poland, maintaining their impressive head-to-head record with just one defeat in five meetings (W3, D1).
Aware of Moldova’s earlier 1-1 draw against Group E leaders Albania, the Czech Republic entered the match in Warsaw with the opportunity to secure their spot in next summer’s Euro finals with a victory. This motivation was evident as Jaroslav Šilhavý’s men started brightly in the opening quarter-hour, with David Douděra squandering a close-range effort that went wide of the target.
As the first half progressed, Poland gradually found their rhythm and came close to taking the lead when Nicola Zalewski’s inviting delivery narrowly missed the run of Karol Świderski in the area. The hosts persisted in their quest for a breakthrough, and Jakub Piotrowski rewarded their efforts seven minutes before halftime, seizing a loose ball inside the six-yard box to score his first-ever international goal.
Determined to mount a swift response in the early stages of the second period, the visitors leveled the score within four minutes. Tomáš Souček slotted a precise finish into the bottom corner after Vladimír Coufal’s cross created confusion in the Polish defense. In a must-win situation for the hosts, Robert Lewandowski sought his first goal in six head-to-head encounters with the Czechs but uncharacteristically fired over the bar when well-placed in the box.
Entering the final 25 minutes, Šilhavý’s side pressed for a winning goal to secure their place in the top two automatic spots in Group E. Despite promising signs in the final third, the visitors fell short, with late efforts from Douděra and Alex Král missing the target, and Wojciech Szczęsny denying Ondřej Lingr in the dying moments. The result dashed Poland’s hopes of automatic qualification, shifting their focus to the play-offs. Meanwhile, the Czech Republic needs just a point in their final group game against Moldova to confirm their place in next summer’s tournament.
Player of the Match: Tomáš Souček (Czech Republic).