Wolves Captain Krejci Inspires Czechia to Historic World Cup Qualification
Wolves' Ladislav Krejci has capped off an unforgettable international break by guiding his Czechia national team to their first World Cup appearance in 20 years. The captain played a pivotal role in a dramatic playoff victory over Denmark, securing qualification through a tense penalty shootout.
Dramatic Playoff Victory Seals World Cup Spot
In a thrilling encounter that extended into extra time, Krejci scored a crucial goal to edge Czechia ahead after the match finished 1-1 in normal time. Despite Denmark equalizing to force penalties, Czechia held their nerve to win the shootout 3-1, even though Krejci missed his spot-kick. Speaking to Czech TV after the match, Krejci expressed immense pride, stating, "Hats off to everyone — I’m incredibly happy. We showed more heart and fought harder. Penalties are a bit of a lottery, but they reflected our approach." He emphasized that desire triumphed over superiority, highlighting the team's collective effort.
Other Wolves Players in International Action
Elsewhere, several Wolves players featured in friendly matches during the break. Jackson Tchatchoua captained Cameroon to a 2-0 win over China, while David Moller Wolfe came on as a substitute for Norway in a goalless draw with Switzerland. Jean Ricner Bellegarde made a late appearance for Haiti in a 1-1 draw with Iceland, and Santi Bueno was on the bench for Uruguay. Goalkeeper Jose Sa played 85 minutes for Portugal in a 2-0 victory over the USA, and on-loan striker Sasa Kalajdzic returned to the international stage with Austria, helping them beat South Korea 1-0.
West Brom and Aston Villa Players Also Feature
West Brom midfielder Ousmane Diakite enjoyed a memorable night, making his senior debut for Mali in a 0-0 draw with Russia. Isaac Price played the first half for Northern Ireland against Wales, and Jayson Molumby featured for an hour in the Republic of Ireland's goalless draw with North Macedonia. However, it was a disappointing outing for Welsh youngsters Alex Williams and Ollie Bostock, who were part of a 4-0 defeat to Denmark in Euro 2021 qualifying.
For Aston Villa, there was heartbreak as Matty Cash's Poland side lost 3-2 to Sweden in their World Cup playoff, denying him a spot in the tournament. Morgan Rogers and Ezri Konsa started for England in an embarrassing 1-0 home defeat to Japan, while Emi Martinez had a routine game for Argentina in a 5-0 win over Zambia. Youri Tielemans played for Belgium in a 1-1 draw with Mexico before being substituted.
