Ireland v Czech Republic: All the details on the Boys in Green's biggest game in years
Ireland travel to Prague to face the Czech Republic on Thursday with all eyes on this summer's World Cup.
FARO Sport News
Champions League restarts with World Cup star Lopes of Cape Verde missing for Shamrock Rovers
GENEVA: Far from the World Cup spotlight, the Champions League has restarted with Shamrock Rovers defender Roberto ‘Pico’ Lopes unable to play because of his memorable tournament run with Cape Verde. In 10 games played Tuesday in the Champions League first qualifying round, the first goal of the season was scored in Gibraltar by a player even older than Cristiano Ronaldo — 41-year-old Nano, the left back for Lincoln Red Imps. Lopes returned to Dublin on Monday three days after Cape Verde thrilled the World Cup by pushing defending champion Argentina and Lionel Messi to the limit in a 3-2 loss in the round of 32 at Miami Gardens. Shamrock, where the 34-year-old Lopes has played since 2016, lost 2-0 to Floriana in the first leg in Malta. “I’ll miss the game in Malta, unfortunately,” Lopes had told reporters at Dublin airport, “but I’m looking forward to getting back into training and getting back to doing what I love.” Rovers host the second leg next Tuesday. Champions League in soccer outposts Champions League action played out Tuesday in a swath of soccer nations that never qualified for a World Cup — Gibraltar, San Marino, Faroe Islands — and one which did, Bosnia-Herzegovina. Bosnian champion Borac Banja Luka drew their first leg at home, 1-1 against Levski Sofia, though without their only player who went to the World Cup, 18-year-old goalkeeper Mladen Jurkas. In Gibraltar, Lincoln opened the competition’s scoring with a 16th-minute penalty by Nano in a 3-1 win over Inter Club d’Escaldes of Andorra. Kairat’s return Four more games are played Wednesday, including in Estonia, Moldova and Kazakhstan, where Kairat Almaty start again in the first qualifying round. Kairat reaching the lucrative main phase in the last
IOC says it will not give Olympic team status to Greenland and Faroe Islands
LAUSANNE: Greenland and the Faroe Islands will not be recognized as separate and independent Olympic teams despite a request from Denmark’s parliament, the IOC said Wednesday. The Olympic Charter has for 30 years defined a country that can have an official team as “an independent state recognized by the international community.” Greenland and the Faroe Islands — which are semi-autonomous territories in the kingdom of Denmark — do not meet that standard, the International Olympic Committee said in a statement. “This position has been explained and communicated very clearly to the concerned parties on numerous occasions over the past years,” the IOC said. The formal request by the Danish parliament was made two weeks ago and published Tuesday. It came weeks after Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen formed a new coalition government. In the election campaign, she pledged support for Greenland against US President Donald Trump’s wish to acquire the island. At the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Games, which President Trump should formally declare open, athletes from Greenland and Faroes can compete for Denmark.
Czech coach brushes off pressure of 20-year World Cup absence
GUADALAJARA, Mexico, June 10 : Czech Republic coach Miroslav Koubek said on Wednesday he was unfazed by the growing pressure of leading the team into their first World Cup in 20 years.
In at the deep end: The World Cup managers short on preparation
June 10 : International managers often complain about limited preparation time, so spare a thought for the recently appointed coaches arriving at this World Cup, some mere weeks into the job and often without a single competitive game in charge of their side.
Physical Czechs will look to win ugly to qualify from Group A
PRAGUE, June 1 : Lacking the kind of big-name stars who led the Czech Republic at their last World Cup appearance in 2006, this time around the team will rely on winning ugly with combative, physical play aimed at grinding out results against more technical opponents.
Czechs tap experience and domestic champions Slavia for final World Cup squad
PRAGUE, May 31 : Czech Republic coach Miroslav Koubek named his final World Cup squad on Sunday with a roster led by long-time national team players including West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek and Bayer Leverkusen striker Patrik Schick.
Czechs lean on experience for World Cup return
PRAGUE, May 12 : The Czech Republic named a preliminary World Cup squad on Tuesday that leans heavily on long-time national team players led by West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek as they prepare to return to the tournament after a 20-year absence.
Czechs beat Denmark on penalties to book World Cup spot
PRAGUE, March 31 : The Czech Republic clinched a place at this year's World Cup by beating Denmark 3-1 on penalties after an absorbing encounter in which they led in normal time and extra time on Tuesday.