FOOTYBOT
Matchday

World Cup Qualification, UEFA 2026, Semifinals · 26 Mar 2026

Czechia 2–2 Ireland

Picked for matchday: Two strong sides · Against the odds: the prediction gave this result 25% · Standout: Michal Sadílek scored 95.8

Expected and what happened

Before the match, from team ratings for Feb 2026; the outlined result is what happened.

Expected xG
1.6 – 0.9
Actual xG
–
Goals
2 – 2

Footybot made Czechia favourites at 55%.

No xG was recorded for this match, so only the result can be read.

Best on the pitch by Footybot's score: Ryan Manning, 81.1 in 68′.

Well above their usual level: Ryan Manning +45.0, Dara O'Shea +37.0, Alan Browne +31.6.

Well below it: Tomáš Holeš −21.8, Vladimír Coufal −11.7, Caoimhin Kelleher −9.1.

Going in

Each side's last five results before this match.

Czechia

17 Nov 2025W 6–0v Gibraltar World Cup Qualification UEFA
12 Oct 2025L 1–2at Faroe Islands World Cup Qualification UEFA
9 Oct 2025D 0–0v Croatia World Cup Qualification UEFA
5 Sep 2025W 2–0at Montenegro World Cup Qualification UEFA

Ireland

16 Nov 2025W 3–2at Hungary World Cup Qualification UEFA
13 Nov 2025W 2–0v Portugal World Cup Qualification UEFA
14 Oct 2025W 1–0v Armenia World Cup Qualification UEFA
11 Oct 2025L 0–1at Portugal World Cup Qualification UEFA
9 Sep 2025L 1–2at Armenia World Cup Qualification UEFA

Head to head

No earlier meeting in Footybot's data.

Czechia

PlayerMinGAxGScorevs usual
Michal Sadílek Midfielder3801–95.8–
Štěpán Chaloupek Defender7500–77.4+23.6
Adam Karabec Midfielder3800–73.2–
Ladislav Krejčí Defender12010–72.6+24.3
David Jurásek Midfielder8200–72.0+25.4
Tomáš Souček Midfielder7500–59.8+10.9
Mojmír Chytil Forward4700–53.8–
Lukáš Provod Forward12000–51.8−5.7
Robin Hranáč Defender12000–47.2−4.1
Matěj Kovář Goalkeeper12000–45.9−1.7
Patrik Schick Forward12010–45.5−7.3
Tomáš Chorý Forward7300–45.1−6.3
Vladimír Darida Midfielder4500–44.0–
Pavel Šulc Forward10300–43.7−7.3
Vladimír Coufal Defender8200–41.4−11.7
Tomáš Holeš Defender4500–34.6−21.8

Ireland

PlayerMinGAxGScorevs usual
Ryan Manning Midfielder6800–81.1+45.0
Dara O'Shea Defender12000–73.9+37.0
Jimmy Dunne Defender2400–73.2–
Alan Browne Midfielder5200–68.2+31.6
Troy Parrott Forward12010–61.3+8.7
Finn Azaz Midfielder12000–59.2+24.7
Nathan Collins Defender12000–58.9+8.1
Séamus Coleman Midfielder9600–56.8+9.0
Jayson Molumby Midfielder11500–51.9+15.2
Harvey Vale Midfielder100–48.9–
Chiedozie Ogbene Forward9600–45.2+1.6
Caoimhin Kelleher Goalkeeper12000–41.6−9.1
Jack Taylor Midfielder6800–41.6+3.9
Jake O'Brien Defender12000–41.3−8.7
Adam Idah Forward2400–40.1–
Sammie Szmodics Midfielder400–29.7–