Take a look at the controversy of Czech twenty-one coach Jan Suchopárek and Diary reporter Jiří Fejgl.

Up to the regions, it’s a reward and a motivation

During my career, I competed in large and famous stadiums, but I also remember my beginnings in Kladno well. Maybe that’s why I am well aware of how valuable it is for players and fans to play in national team jerseys in the case of smaller cities – just like our twenty-one in České Budějovice right now.

Now this is confirmed in the qualification for the European Twenty-One Championship. Here is the absolutely ideal size of the stadium, a friendly atmosphere and the players play differently when the fans are encouraging. Although we thought that even more fans could come, but it was confirmed that the choice of location is good.

But I hope that we will play not only in České Budějovice, it is important that the national team’s advertising is distributed to more regions in the Czech Republic and Moravia, where I think the audience deserves it. In a way, it is also a reward and motivation for players who come in the national jersey to the region where they come from. This was confirmed, for example, in Ostrava during a duel with Belarus, where Vladimír Coufal had a family.

Jan Suchopárek, coach of the Czech Republic U21 and former representative

Prague? Definitely. But at the national stadium

Big football belongs to a big city. Ideally for the main thing. National team matches should be events for the whole Czechia. And Prague is his heart. A sacred place. Prague is reachable everywhere. Try to take the train to Wednesday preparation with Ukraine to Pilsen. For example from Ostrava. You’ll be home about Saturday on that.

And now counter-arguments. There are a lot of them – classically, when it comes to domestic football. First: Praguers are “overeated” by big events, they are mundane for them. That is why visitors and the atmosphere lag behind in less attractive duels. In Ostrava, it was perfect a few days ago during the match with Belarus over the thin stands. Secondly, the regions simply deserve a holiday.

Yes, none of that. This should also be the case in the foreseeable future. Until the moment… When will the large national stadium (capacity 30 to 35 thousand seats). Sure, it has many opponents, but if Sparta played on it, for example, it would not only have occasional use. Above all, however, the arena itself will become an attraction, it must be the seat of the national team. Then let’s choose Prague. Will we see?

Jiří Fejgl, reporter of Deník