Czech women’s team lose 2-0 to Scotland in World Cup play-off

The Czech women’s national football team lost 2-0 to Scotland in the first play-off match for a place at the 2027 World Cup. The game was played on Friday in Pardubice; the return leg will take place in Scotland, and the Czechs will have to make up a two-goal deficit.

The hosts started cautiously, then grew bolder and more active, but neither side had any real chances before the break. The Scots began the second half better: Weir opened the scoring in the 57th minute, and Emslie added a second in the 65th. The Czechs also created a few chances but converted none, and in the 85th minute they were down to ten players when Krejčiříková was sent off.

In added time a penalty against the Czech side was overturned after a video review, but it no longer affected the final score.

Coach Jitka Klimková praised the performance: “We showed how we want to play – bravely and in an organised way. Unfortunately, we then ran out of energy a little, and at the end we were also reduced to ten. But qualification is still possible, and it’s in our hands. We’ll fly to Scotland to make life difficult for our opponents.” She added that the team has many injured players and will also miss the suspended Krejčiříková in the return match: “We’d like to strengthen the squad before we fly out”.

The Czechs faltered at the end of qualifying, finishing second in Group B1, and now face a harder path on paper through the play-offs. The winner of the two-legged tie will play for a place at the World Cup against the stronger of the Sweden–Lithuania pair. The favourites there are the Swedes, who have appeared at all nine World Cups: they have won bronze four times and silver once. Next year’s World Cup will be hosted by Brazil.

Around Prague, based on reporting by sport.cz