Czechia to add to Wales' difficult WCQ start
Wales return to FIFA World Cup qualifying action with another tough game in prospect in the continued absence of manager Ryan Giggs. The principality lost 3-1 to Belgium after taking a surprise lead, and followed that up with an impressive clean sheet in a 1-0 friendly win over Mexico at the weekend. Meanwhile, visitors Czechia rallied to blow Estonia away in their trip to the Baltic state, eventually running out with a 6-2 victory. That good work was added to by holding off group favourites Belgium to a 1-1 draw back at home. They have the opportunity to keep pace with the world number ones in Cardiff on Tuesday night with a win, and it's difficult to foresee a way that they won't. Read our preview here:
Cabango, go, go!
Even now, COVID regulations are playing havoc with football and players' availability. The variations in restrictions by country, and in this context the UK, mean St. Pauli based James Lawrence has to return to his club in Germany prematurely. This in turn opens up a slot as the left-sided centre back of a defensive three, and based on form, it should be filled by 20 year old Swansea City stopper Ben Cabango. The youngster, along with teammate Rabbi Matondo, was subject to horrific online racist abuse after the win over Mexico on Saturday, but should still hopefully be in the right frame of mind to take part. Lukáš Provod isn't the most attack-minded of wingers on his flank; however, the Slavia Prague utility man did score against Belgium last time out, so he'll need to be wary of the underlying threat he possesses. Elsewhere, target man Kieffer Moore could get the nod up top after scoring the solitary goal in the clash with the North American outfit.
Slick Schick
Head coach Jaroslav Šilhavý is slowly turning Czechia into a nation not to be taken lightly once more on the field. Whilst he doesn't have at his disposal the outright quality of the peak between 1996 and 2004, they do work together well as a team with some standout performers. West Ham United pair Vladimír Coufal and Tomáš Souček will operate at right-back and as a box-to-box midfielder respectively just as they do for David Moyes' European place challengers, and the latter blasted in a hat-trick from that position against Estonia only last week. Šilhavý will continue to give the midfield licence to get forward in support of Bayer Leverkusen frontman Patrik Schick, who should be restored to the XI in place of Michael Krmenčík in an attempt to stretch the Welsh defence more frequently.
Czechs will bounce
The win over Mexico, albeit in a friendly where they surrendered the majority of possession and chances, will have brought a semblance of confidence back to the Welsh squad after being soundly beaten by Belgium. They'll also be more than cognisant that Czechia managed to get a well deserved draw against the Red Devils, and look dangerous on the attack. A repeat of the ebb and flow in Cardiff on Saturday is therefore likely, but perhaps not the same favourable result. 888sport are offering odds of 2.50 for the visitors to make it seven points from three games.
