Czech U21 Football Team to Play Portugal in Qualifier
- Czech under-21 men's national football team players will close out their European Championship qualifying campaign against group winners Portugal on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at 18:30 CEST in...
- Portugal enters the final group match having secured first place in Group B and direct qualification to the upcoming tournament in Serbia and Albania.
- Because the result in Leiria carries no weight for qualification standings, head coach Michal Bílek announced plans to rotate the lineup so that players who have seen less...
Czech under-21 men’s national football team players will close out their European Championship qualifying campaign against group winners Portugal on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at 18:30 CEST in Leiria. Michal Bílek’s squad enters the fixture with second place and a spot in the November playoffs already secured.
Portugal Leads Group B Before Final Match
Portugal enters the final group match having secured first place in Group B and direct qualification to the upcoming tournament in Serbia and Albania. The Portuguese side boasts nine matches with only one defeat and one draw, backed by an imposing goal differential of 33-2. In contrast, the Czech team has recorded three draws and one defeat across the qualifying phase, securing their playoff position through a 1-0 home victory over Bulgaria in Hradec Králové following an opening 1-1 draw in Azerbaijan. Portugal’s current gathering also includes a surprise 1-2 loss in Bulgaria followed by a 4-0 home win against Gibraltar. The match in Leiria kicks off at 18:30 CEST, just ahead of the senior Czech national team’s evening fixture against England at Wembley in the fourth match of the UEFA Nations League elite group, with live coverage broadcast on ČT sport starting at 18:15.
Michal Bílek Rotates Lineup to Manage Injuries
Because the result in Leiria carries no weight for qualification standings, head coach Michal Bílek announced plans to rotate the lineup so that players who have seen less action can feature. The team traveled from Prague to Porto on Sunday morning before taking a two-hour bus ride to Leiria. Bílek must manage without injured Adam Ševínský and Pavel Kačor, who both missed the trip due to health reasons, with Kačor sidelined by a shoulder injury. To address the absences, the coaching staff called up Slovácko defender Šimon Slončík directly from Portugal, where he had been participating in a tournament with the under-20 representative team. Kluci, kteří se do hry nedostali, dostanou možnost nastoupit v základu nebo nám pomůžou z lavičky,
Bílek indicated regarding the changes.
Match Prepares Team for November Playoff Round
The match serves as a high-level test ahead of the decisive two-legged playoff round scheduled for November 9 through 17, 2026, with the official draw taking place on October 9, 2026, in Nyon. Goalkeeper Jan Koutný emphasized the fixture’s utility as preparation for the autumn climax. Nine group winners and the runner-up with the best record qualify directly to the tournament hosted jointly by Serbia and Albania, while the remaining eight second-placed teams enter the playoffs to contest the final four slots, with a berth at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles also at stake.