2022 FIFA World Cup qualification Group E is going to be tough as Belgium, Czech Republic, and Wales battle it for the top spot and second place.
There are two fixtures to be played in the group on Thursday the 2nd of September including the meeting between Czech Republic and Belarus at the Městský stadion v Ostravě-Vítkovicích, Ostrava. Czech Republic come into the match sitting in second place having taken 4 points from 3 games while Belarus are in 4th place with 3 points having played one game fewer.
📸 The first training session before matches in September. The squad will travel to Ostrava from Prague on Tuesday before the match against Belarus (Thursday, September 2, kick-off 20:45 CET). pic.twitter.com/AmpGlIcree— Czech Football National Team (@ceskarepre_eng) August 30, 2021
📸 The first training session before matches in September. The squad will travel to Ostrava from Prague on Tuesday before the match against Belarus (Thursday, September 2, kick-off 20:45 CET). pic.twitter.com/AmpGlIcree
Czech Republic participated in the 2020 European Championship this summer and reached the quarter final of the competition. They held Croatia to a 1-1 draw in their second group game having defeated Scotland 2-0 in their opening fixture to progress to the knockout stages. A good 2-0 win over Netherlands was followed by a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Denmark.
Czech Republic started their 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign with a comfortable 5-2 win in Estonia. The home fixture against Belgium was always going to be difficult but Czech Republic matched their opponents to take a point in a 1-1 draw. However, disappointment was to follow in the away match against Wales and the Welsh won the game 1-0 in Cardiff.
Trends show in their last 6 home games in World Cup qualification, Czech Republic have been undefeated on 5 occasions.
Belarus face a difficult task in this group and their main aim will be to finish above Estonia in fourth place. Their most recent fixture was a friendly match prior to the European Championship and Belarus were defeated 2-1 at home by Azerbaijan.
However, that result will be the least of their worries having previously been defeated 8-0 by Belgium in 2022 World Cup qualifying. Belgium scored 4 goals in each half of the match and Belarus need to improve defensively ahead of this game. Fortunately, Belarus proved too strong for Estonia in their opening fixture of the group, recording a 4-2 victory.
Trends show Belarus have achieved only 2 wins in their last 16 World Cup qualification games and they have lost each of their last 10 away World Cup qualifying matches.
Looking ahead to the team news and Czech Republic are missing a couple of key players, including Lukáš Masopust and Patrik Schick. Experienced midfielder Vladimír Darida has retired from international football following the European Championship.
Belarus have mostly players from their own domestic league, with Nikolay Zolotov, Aleksandr Pavlovets, Max Ebong, and Vitali Lisakovich being the four exceptions.
This is a must win game for Czech Republic and they come into the match as huge favourites to take maximum points. They will also see the game as an opportunity to boost their goal difference, especially with Belgium having already scored 8 goals against Belarus.