The statements of Koubek, Czech coach

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June 4, 2026June 4, 2026By Mario Vásquez
The statements of Koubek, Czech coach

The selection of Czech Republic will face the combined Guatemala this thursday June 4 at 6:00 p.m. at the Sports Illustrated Stadium, in Harrison, New Jersey. It will be the Czechs’ last friendly match before their debut in the 2026 World Cupwhere they will share Group A with Mexico, South Korea and South Africa.

Although Czechia will play most of its group stage matches in the World Cup 2026 in Mexico—in Guadalajara against South Korea and Mexico City against Tri—, the Czech federation decided to play its last friendly in the northeast from the United States, a thousand kilometers away atlantawhere they will face South Africa.

Likewise, their last friendly preparation match will be against a rival unpublishedbecause the Czech Republic and Guatemala teams will meet for the first time in history. Therefore, the commitment represents a tactical challenge for those led by Mexican coach Luis Fernando Tena, who seeks to rebuild his project.

“Playing against the Czech Republic, when they are already very tuned for the World Cup, is going to be a very good test for us. We must care very much our image and our prestige“, stated Tena before leaving for the United States, where he will also face the national team of Ecuador on Sunday, June 7 at Columbus, Ohio.

Czech Republic in the USA

24 hours before facing Guatemala, the Czech coach Miroslav Koubek He said that the Czech Republic team traveled with a competitive spirit and the aspiration to overcome the group stage. “We are not going to participate. We want to advance to the next round,” said the coach, 74 yearswho before leading the Czech Republic was in the Viktoria Pilsen.

However, Koubek mentioned that, after qualifying through the play-offs, Czechia returns to a World Cup after 20 years of absence, and that this is due to the strength of the squad, since it is a team united. Proof of this is that the players decided to attend together at Yankee Stadium, in New York, to watch a baseball game.

Read more about the 2026 World Cup: The list of matches that will be played in Mexico, the USA and Canada

“As we are here, in New Yorkwe went to see the Yankees and it was great. It was a very pleasant activity that we decided to do, and it was great that all 26 players were there. Right before a tournament like this, it’s nice to have something we can laugh and strengthen the group again. I think it was quite a success“he added.

In turn, the coach assured that the majority of the coaching staff decided to compensate for the lack of sleep and stay at the hotel to rest. For this reason, activity in New York was practically exclusive for the footballers, who are seven days away from playing in a World Cup for the first time in their careers and demonstrating their ability.

Koubek on Guatemala

Before his World Cup debut against South Korea in Guadalajara, Jaliscothe selection of Czech Republic will face Guatemala in his last preparation match. This meeting could serve the Czech technical director, Miroslav Koubek, to test tactics and players without the pressure of scoring points or compromising the standings.

“Guatemala is a rival that knows how to hit and play soccer; they are good with the ball. They played very well against the United States team in the Gold CupFor example. I know we have had other rivals strongerbut this team knows how to play soccer and will surely be a rival very interesting and difficult“added the 74-year-old coach.

“Guatemalans are technical players and, especially in the offensive phase, they are dangerous and unexpected. For Czechia, our european routine should speak for itself and our arms can work against them. We cannot do without them; we always have to have them in our arsenal when we enter the battle“he concluded.

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