Here is When Saturday Comes with a half decent analysis of why the Czech Republic failed to make the World Cup finals. The article includes an interesting fact about the 1976 European Championship winning team which took me by surprise and could explain the changing fortunes of the Czech and Slovak national sides.
Want to know some of the more obscure facts and figures from this week’s games? FIFA thinks you do.
One Republic of Ireland player is looking forward to the play offs with confidence. Stephen Hunt knows any team will run for cover once they see this picture.
And scepticism, not unrealistic hype, is the way forward for England as preparations get underway for next year. It’ll never last.
