Czech Republic host Wales at Sinobo Stadium, Prague, Czech Republic, in a massive Group E showdown in the fight for second in the group.
Victory will see Czech Republic stay second and move closer towards sealing the World Cup Qualifying Play-Off spot from Group E, whereas Wales can leapfrog their hosts into second with a win.
Team News
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Czech Republic have no fresh injury concerns to report with a full squad in contention for selection, despite West Ham’s Vladimir Coufal withdrawing prior to the squad meeting up due to a groin injury.
Wales will be without Ben Davies and David Brooks after the pair withdrew from the initial squad through illness.
Rhys Norrington-Davies and Tom Lockyer withdrew with unspecified injuries and have been replaced by Will Vaulks and Ben Cabango respectively.
Gareth Bale also misses out with a hamstring injury.
Stat Attack
- Czech Republic lost their only previous World Cup Qualifier against Wales (L1), losing 1-0 in Cardiff in March.
- Wales have lost their only previous visit to Czech Republic in all competitions, losing 2-1 in September 2006 in Qualifying for Euro 2008.
- Czech Republic are unbeaten in their last five competitive home matches (W3, D2), keeping clean sheets in all three wins.
- Wales are unbeaten in four of their last five competitive away matches outside of Euro 2020 (W3, D1, L1).
- Wales have won one of two previous away matches refereed by Deniz Aytekin in all competitions (W1, L1), defeating Azerbaijan 2-0 November after losing in Denmark in September 2018 by same result.
Prediction
Czech Republic enter this qualifier off the back of a difficult September in which they were ripped apart in Belgium, before stuttering to a 1-1 friendly draw at home to Ukraine so will need a huge performance here if they’re to realistically put their Play-Off hopes in their own hands.
Wales meanwhile have work to do if they are to build upon their surprise goalless draw at home to Estonia last month, because they were dominant yet lacked end product which they cannot afford to lack here especially without Bale around to provide creativity up front.
On that note, I can foresee a tight contest here between two solid teams who will be eager to avoid losing this game but if Wales can find that breakthrough, I fancy them to just edge this otherwise a draw could be a decent bet.
Prediction: Czech Republic 1-1 Wales
