World Cup Qualifying - Europe | Group Stage

Mar 25, 2025 at 7.45pm UK

Estadio de Sao Luis

Gibraltar vs Czech Republic

Match preview

Atoning for a forgettable Euro 2024 campaign - in which they crashed out in the group stage with just one point - the Czech Republic sealed promotion to the top tier of the Nations League before getting off to a winning start in World Cup qualifying.

But Ivan Hasek's side were far from convincing against the 137th-ranked Faroe Islands, with Patrik Schick's opener cancelled out by Gunnar Vatnhamar seven minutes from time, only for the Bayer Leverkusen striker to hit back immediately.

Schick's second header of the afternoon saved the day for the Czechs, allowing the world's 42nd-ranked nation to finish second in Group L - not good enough for direct qualification, but giving them another chance to progress via the play-offs.

Having last reached the finals in 2006, qualification is long overdue for the Euro 2004 semi-finalists, who may be favourites to finish top of Group L, but will soon have to prove themselves against Croatia.

The 2018 World Cup runners-up will be looking to secure the final place in the five-team group after losing to France in the Nations League quarter-finals, but Hasek's men can only focus on what they have in hand against Gibraltar, who will be looking for their seventh successive win in all competitions.

Hosts Gibraltar would not normally be associated with an unbeaten run of their own, but Los Llanis have avoided defeat in each of their last seven matches in 2024, recording three draws and one win in their four Nations League games.

However, apart from a shock goalless draw with Wales in June, Gibraltar have rarely faced quality opposition - Andorra, Liechtenstein, San Marino and Moldova - and Scott Wiseman's men received a harsh reality check against Montenegro on Saturday.

There was a brief moment of shock when Englishman Dan Bent opened the scoring for Gibraltar, but evergreen striker Stevan Jovetic levelled before second-half goals from Marko Tuci and Lazio's Adam Marusic completed Montenegro's comeback.

It was back to business as usual for No. 54, who have now participated in 21 World Cup qualifiers in their history and lost all 21, so even a point - an unprecedented one - should be celebrated by the fans of the 196th-ranked team in the world.

Once the 'hosts' have completed what is sure to be another doomed qualifying cycle, they will have much bigger fish to fry in the Nations League, where they will face Latvia in a double-header next March for the chance to win promotion to League C.

Recent Performance

Gibraltar World Cup Qualifying - Europe form:L

Gibraltar form (all competitions):DWDDDL

Czech Republic World Cup Qualifying - Europe form:W

Czech Republic form (all competitions):WWDDWW

Team News

The Czech Republic's struggles against the Faroe Islands were partly due to an early injury to Tomas Holes, who was forced off after 23 minutes with a suspected hamstring problem.

Hasek is likely to call on David Zima to fill the void at the back this week, but otherwise the Czechs are in good shape for Tuesday's showdown, where Schick will be chasing a former Arsenal fan favourite.

The Bayer Leverkusen striker now has 22 goals for his country - the fifth-highest total in Czech men's history - and will equal Tomas Rosicky's record of 23 with a goal in Portugal.

As for Gibraltar, top scorer Bent was unable to play the full 90 minutes as the 29-year-old went off with an unspecified problem in the closing stages, although it is not clear how serious it is.

Either way, 20-year-old Nicholas Pozo should be ready to start in a deep-lying midfield role, and it would not be entirely shocking to see Wiseman switch from the 4-1-4-1 system he employed at the weekend to a five-man backline.

Such a change could be good news for young Blyth Spartans defender Paddy McClafferty, who made his Los Llanis debut from the bench in the defeat to Montenegro, while Manchester United's James Scanlon should also be in the starting line-up.

Possible starting lineup

Gibraltar possible starting lineup:

Banda; McClaffertey, Ronan, Lopes, Annesley, Britto; Scanlon, Bent, Pozo, Walker; De Barr

Czech Republic possible starting lineup:

Kovar; Coufal, Zima, Krejci, Zeleny; Cerny, Kral, Soucek, Provod; Schick, Chory