Czechia 2-2 Ireland Player Ratings: Ladislav Krejci 9/10 Headers Czechia Level Before Shootout Heroics Send Republic of Ireland Crashing Out

Republic of Ireland raced into a commanding 2-0 advantage inside 23 minutes, two penalties, a VAR intervention, and a Kovar own goal doing the damage, and looked set to cruise into the World Cup play-off final with something to spare. For an hour, they defended with organisation and resilience, protecting a lead that seemed to be doing exactly what it needed to do.

Then Ladislav Krejci arrived at the back post in the 86th minute and headed the Czech Republic level, and everything changed. What followed was a breathless period of extra-time that neither Czechia nor the Republic of Ireland could separate, sending the tie to a penalty shootout that ultimately broke Irish hearts. Kovar was outstanding between the sticks for Czechia, saving from both Azaz and Browne, while the Republic of Ireland, so commanding for an hour, were left to reflect on one of the most agonising exits in recent qualifying history. Here are Sportsdunia's Czechia vs Ireland player ratings.

Key Takeaways

• Krejci was the hero of the night, and his 9/10 rating was absolutely deserved.
• The Republic of Ireland will be devastated by how this ended.
• Kovar was the difference-maker in the shootout and deserves enormous credit.

Republic of Ireland Player Ratings vs Czechia

Check out the Ireland player ratings vs Czechia.

Goalkeeper

Caoimhín Kelleher - 5.5: A really tough night for the Irish keeper. He only made one save all game, which is a worrying stat. His distribution was poor, with only 34% of his passes finding a teammate. He conceded two goals and couldn't be the hero in the shootout, despite saving one. It just felt like he was a step behind the play all evening.

Defenders

Dara O'Shea - 8.0: Our standout player for Ireland. What a colossal performance at the back. He was an absolute monster, winning an incredible 18 duels and making 13 clearances. He was everywhere, throwing his body on the line. It's a shame his heroic effort wasn't enough for the win.

Jake O'Brien - 6.0: A mixed bag for O'Brien. He made some important clearances and blocks but struggled in his duels, losing 8 of 14. He seemed to find the physicality of the Czech forwards a real challenge. Not his worst game, but not his best either.

Nathan Collins - 7.5: The captain led by example. He was a force in both boxes, winning a penalty for his side and hitting the woodwork himself. Defensively, he was immense, winning 14 of 19 duels and making 7 clearances. A true warrior's performance deserved more.

Midfielders

Séamus Coleman - 6.5: A solid, if unspectacular, outing for the veteran. He worked tirelessly down the right flank and contributed to the attack with a key pass. He won half of his duels before being substituted after 96 grueling minutes. A typically professional display.

Ryan Manning - 6.0: A day of contrasts for Manning. He provided two key passes and was a threat with his crossing. However, he gave away the penalty that let the Czechs back into the game, a moment that completely changed the momentum. That single error proved incredibly costly for his team.

Jayson Molumby - 7.5: He was the engine room for Ireland. Molumby was all over the pitch, recovering the ball 8 times and winning 7 of his 10 duels. He was desperately unlucky to see his long-range effort cannon off the post. He ran himself into the ground for the cause.

Jack Taylor - 6.0: A quiet evening for Taylor. He picked up an early yellow card which seemed to hamper his aggression. He struggled to impose himself on the game and was substituted after 68 minutes having made little impact.

Forwards

Troy Parrott - 7.5: Showed immense composure to slot away his penalty and give Ireland the lead. He was a livewire throughout, attempting 9 dribbles and constantly looking to make something happen. He also scored his penalty in the shootout. A very promising performance.

Finn Azaz - 6.5: Looked tidy on the ball and had a decent shot on target saved. He linked up play reasonably well but couldn't provide a decisive moment. He played the full 120 minutes but his influence waned as the game wore on, and unfortunately missed his penalty in the shootout.

Chiedozie Ogbene - 6.5: From our perspective, Ogbene's performance was one of immense effort but little end product. He was a physical presence but lost 12 of his 19 duels. He drew fouls and worked hard for the team but lacked that final bit of quality when it mattered.

Substitutes

Alan Browne - 6.0: Came on and put in a shift but missed the crucial penalty in the shootout.

Robert Brady - 6.5: Scored his penalty but didn't offer much else after coming on.

Jimmy Dunne - 6.0: Brought on for extra time to shore things up defensively.

Sam Szmodics - N/A: Came on late and got injured almost immediately.

Harvey Vale - N/A: An injury replacement who had no time to make an impact.

Manager

H. Hallgrímsson - 6.5: His game plan worked perfectly for 25 minutes as Ireland raced to a 2-0 lead. However, his side couldn't manage the game and allowed the Czechs a way back in. The substitutions didn't have the desired effect, and ultimately his team fell short in the cruelest way possible.

Czechia Player Ratings vs Republic of Ireland

Here are the Czechia player ratings for the Czechia vs Ireland fixture.

Goalkeeper

Matej Kovar - 5.0: An absolute nightmare of a moment for the keeper. The own goal was calamitous and put his team in a huge hole. While he made two saves, that single error is what his performance will be remembered for. A truly forgettable night for him, despite being on the winning side.

Defenders

Tomas Holes - 5.5: Lasted just 45 minutes before being substituted. He wasn't particularly bad, but he offered very little going forward or defensively. It was no surprise to us that he was hooked at halftime as his team sought a way back into the game.

Robin Hranac - 6.5: A steady performance at the heart of the defence. He was tidy in possession with an 88% pass accuracy. However, he struggled at times with the physicality of the Irish forwards. A solid, if unspectacular, shift.

Ladislav Krejci - 9.0: The undisputed Man of the Match. What a performance. He was a titan, winning a staggering 21 duels and making 11 clearances. He won a penalty, and then scored the dramatic late equalizer to send the game to extra time. He was simply immense and dragged his team to victory. The highest-rated player on the pitch by a country mile.

Midfielders

Vladimír Coufal - 6.5: A typical all-action performance from the West Ham man. He delivered some dangerous crosses and was unlucky to hit the woodwork. He worked hard up and down the right flank before being substituted late on.

Ladislav Krejci - 5.5: A game to forget for Darida. He gave away the penalty for Ireland's first goal with a clumsy foul. It was a costly error, and he was rightly substituted at halftime. A very poor showing.

Lukas Provod - 6.5: Kept things ticking over in midfield with a high pass completion rate. He was busy and involved, but lacked a cutting edge in the final third. A solid contributor without being a star.

David Jurásek - 7.0: A very good outlet on the left side. He created two chances and was defensively sound, winning 6 of his 10 duels. His crossing was a constant threat, and he provided good balance to the team. An impressive display.

Forwards

Patrik Schick - 7.0: He confidently dispatched his penalty to get his team back in the game. He was a constant handful for the Irish defence, even if he did lose a lot of his aerial duels. He led the line well and scored in the shootout too.

Pavel Sulc - 6.5: Worked incredibly hard for the team, winning 9 duels. He got into some good positions but his final product was often lacking. A tireless runner who just missed that final piece of quality.

Tomas Chory - 6.0: A frustrating night for the big striker. He was a physical presence but was often clumsy, committing five fouls and losing 12 of his 19 duels. He was ineffective and it was no surprise when he was substituted.

Substitutes

Tomás Soucek - 7.0: Came on at halftime and made a difference, adding steel and presence to the midfield.

Stepán Chaloupek - 6.5: Replaced Holes at the back and looked more solid.

Mojmír Chytil - 6.0: Worked hard but had his penalty saved in the shootout.

Michal Sadílek - 6.5: Added fresh legs and energy in extra time.

Adam Karabec - 6.5: Looked bright and created a chance after coming on.

Jan Kliment - N/A: Came on late in extra time.

Manager

M. Koubek - 7.5: His halftime changes were crucial and changed the flow of the game. He saw his team was struggling and wasn't afraid to act. His side showed incredible character to fight back from 2-0 down, and he deserves huge credit for masterminding the comeback and the eventual penalty shootout victory.

Man of the Match

Ladislav Krejci was the man of the match.

Worst Performer

Matej Kovar was the worst performer.