Ireland got drawn into Path D of the Play-offs for next year’s World Cup.

It means that they’ll first face Czechia in a semi-final, and a win there could give Ireland a play-off final match against either Denmark or North Macedonia, which would be at home.

However, Heimir Hallgrimsson‘s side will have to get past a solid Czech side away in Prague. Here’s what Ireland can expect from their semi-final opponents.

Czechia goalkeeper Matej Kovar. Pic: Michal Cizek/AFP via Getty Images

Czechia are not in great form because in their last 5 matches they have beaten Gibraltar 1-0, beaten San Marino 1-0, lost 2-1 to the Faroe Islands, drawn 0-0 with Croatia and drawn 1-1 with Saudi Arabia.  

In their World Cup qualifying campaign, Czechia were unbeaten at home with results like a 0-0 draw with Croatia, a 2-0 win vs Montenegro, a 2-1 win vs the Faroe Islands a 6-0 win vs Gibraltar. Whereas their away form was as good with results like a 2-1 loss to the Faroe Islands, a 2-0 win vs Montenegro, a 5-1 loss vs Croatia and a 4-0 win vs Gibraltar

They have a very strong team, which includes Hoffenheim’s Vladimír Coufal, West Ham’s Tomáš Souček, PSV’s Matěj Kovář, and their star player, Bayer Leverkusen striker Patrik Schick. However, they are currently without a permanent manager as Jaroslav Köstl is in charge temporarily. Four days after their surprising 2-1 defeat to the Faroe Islands, the Czech Football Association sacked then-manager, Ivan Hasek.

Czechia striker Patrik Schick. Pic: Michal Cizek/AFP via Getty Images

They usually lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation for the majority of their World Cup qualifiers, with Patrick Shick usually as the lone striker, Lukáš Provod and Václav Černý on the wings with Pavel Šulc in the attacking midfielder role, Lukáš Červ and Tomáš Souček in the defensive midfield roles, Jaroslav Zeleny and Vladimír Coufal as their full backs, Ladislav Krejčí and David Zima as their centre backs, and Matěj Kovář as their goalkeeper.

Ireland has won two, drawn two and lost one out of their last 5 meetings. These games were played in 2012, 2007, 2006, 2004 and 2000. The last time they met was at the Aviva Stadium as Simon Cox scored in a 1-1 draw.

The Czechs will likely be going into this game as favourites as they are ranked 44th in the world, whereas Ireland is 59th. The game will be played on March 26 in the Letná Stadium.