Czech coach Miroslav Koubek praised his players for their efforts in Thursday’s opening World Cup defeat to South Korea, but said the better team won and his side needed to add more spice to the attack to stay in the tournament.
South Korea recovered from a goal down to beat the Czechs 2-1 in Group A, handing Koubek’s men their first defeat after a run of six games unbeaten.
«We really made some mistakes, but also created chances. «Our opponent was very fast,» Koubek told reporters. «The better team won. We had to fight and we did,» he added. «Now we have to move on. We have to be more attacking and creative in the last thirty meters. We have room for improvement in attack.”
Ladislav Krejci put the Czechs ahead with a fine header as they dominated in the air, but Hwang In-beom soon equalized and then turned provider for substitute Oh Hyeon-gyu’s winner.
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Koubek also said the Czechs needed to see more of key players such as striker Patrik Schick and attacking midfielder Pavel Sulc, both of whom he replaced in the second half after the two appeared exhausted by the warm temperature.
The Czechs meet South Africa on June 18.
“We’re going to face a tough opponent and we just met a tough opponent,” Koubek said. «It was our duty to play until the end, so it is clear that the players are exhausted.»
Despite a first defeat for the 74-year-old since taking the job, Koubek found positives, especially the midfield performance of Alexandr Sojka, who won his first league cap.
He also shrugged off the travel in store for the Czechs, who head to Atlanta to face the South Africans next week, while co-hosts and Group A leaders Mexico face South Korea.
“We just have to live with it because that’s what others have planned for us,” Koubek said. “Our logistics team is good, but it is not ideal that we have to travel so much.”
Published on June 12, 2026
