Czechia v Ireland TV review: nervous pundits and selfies with Ronnie

The Boys in Green saw their campaign come to an end in Prague on Thursday night. 

Ireland players after the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers play-off semi-final defeat. Pic:  Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Television and radio coverage of the Republic of Ireland’s FIFA World Cup play-off qualifier semi-final loss to Czechia began with nervous tension and ended in penalty shootout despair.

40 years to the day since Jack Charlton’s first match in charge of the Republic of Ireland and current manager Heimir Hallgrímsson suffered a heartbreaking World Cup qualification exit.

Ireland, despite building a 2-0 lead, failed to build on the positivity of their previous wins over Portugal and Hungary, eventually losing on penalty kicks.

Earlier in the evening, the atmosphere inside Prague’s Fortuna Arena 19,370-capacity stadium was raucous, or chraptivý as the locals say, ahead of kick-off.

“Incredible really that over 6,000 Irish supporters have travelled and we have seen them all around Prague,” RTÉ Soccer Correspondent Tony O’Donoghue commented.

“1,024 is the official stadium allocation but we have already seen Irish fans in the Czech section because they came down to us looking for selfies with Ronnie Whelan.” 

Pitchside, Darragh Moloney began the evening by quizzing RTÉ pundits Didi Hamann and Shay Given on Jack Taylor and Ryan Manning’s inclusions.

“Taylor coming into midfield might be a surprise to some as I thought (Jason) Knight might have started or even (Alan) Browne might have come in,” Given admitted.

“I like it,” added an upbeat Hamann. “I think the key for Ireland tonight is the defence and goalkeeper. Caoimhin Kelleher is probably the best keeper left in the playoffs.” That upbeat tone continued with co-commentator and former international Ronnie Whelan adding: “Get the win whichever way we can get it. Through luck, through magnificent football, I don’t think any Irish player will care. It is just about getting through this game.” Anyone anticipating a cagey encounter was mistaken with three goals in 8 frenetic first half minutes.

A Vladimir Darida foul on Nathan Collins resulted in an Irish penalty. Step forward Troy Daniel Parrott.

“Parrott hasn’t scored every penalty he’s taken in professional football but you never felt for one second he was going to miss this one. It is exactly what the Ireland team deserved,” said former Irish international Kenny Cunningham on RTÉ Radio 1.

Things got even better when Ireland went 2-0 up courtesy of a Matěj Kovář own goal.

Then, disaster struck just as thousands of Irish supporters began filling out Credit Union online loan application.

An unnecessary Ryan Manning foul resulted in the game’s second penalty which Patrik Schick gleefully dispatched.

“What a silly mistake by Ryan Manning, straight after going 2-0 up,” opined an angered Whelan.

“A big blow and a great penalty from Schick. It should have never happened though.” 2-1 up at the break, Shay Given encapsulated the feelings of every watching Republic of Ireland supporter.

“Two up and we are cruising thinking this could be anything. That penalty gives them a huge lifeline and the crowd a lift as well,” the former goalkeeper said.

“That goal was a poor giveaway from our point of view, no reason for it whatsoever.

“Calm heads at half time now. Heimir needs to calm them down.

“I’m not calm at all.” There was no let-up as Jayson Molumby struck an upright early in the second half. A scrappy spell followed and nerves jangled as the game entered its final quarter.

“The ball isn’t sticking (for us),” Kenny Cunningham observed on RTÉ Radio 1.

“We are getting penned in. Czechia have not opened us up or created any clearcut chances. The more possession they have, the more crosses they put into the box, increases the percentage of them getting something.” Those words proved prophetic as Wolves’ Ladislav Krejčí headed in an 84th minute equaliser from a free kick.

From 2-0 up to 2-2 and extra-time.

“We have been on the other end a few months ago, under the cosh for 70 minutes and then scored two late goals,” Didi Hamann reminded TV viewers.

“If we know one thing about this team, like we saw in Budapest, they don’t panic.” Whilst a tiring Ireland didn’t panic during two periods of extra-time, there could be no getting away from the disappointment of Ireland having to go to penalties after squandering a two-goal lead.

The first five penalties converted, Caoimhin Kelleher saved Mojmír Chytil’s attempt before Finn Azaz was denied by Matěj Kovář. Patrik Schick made no mistake before Alan Browne couldn’t get his shot past Kovář. Jan Kliment broke Ireland’s hearts with the final spot kick.

Once the dust settled, RTÉ’s pundit Ronnie Whelan did his best to put the result into perspective.

“The players look so disappointed out there,” Whelan concluded.

“I just think in the second half, they didn’t come out and then, penalties are a lottery. They have done themselves proud tonight the Irish players. They gave everything they have got. They were under pressure so many times throughout the game.

“Penalties, nightmare”.

Now, a meaningless encounter with North Macedonia instead of a FIFA World Cup Play-Off Path D Qualifier final against Denmark is all despondent Irish supporters have to contend with.

From Prague, the city of one hundred spires, to Dublin and the city of one giant spire, next Tuesday night’s matchup is one Irish fans will struggle to care about.

Still, we will always have Budapest.