Sport
Czech FA Appoints Miroslav Koubek as National Coach
Miroslav Koubek appointed Czech Republic coach for 2.5 years, aiming for 2026 World Cup qualification
The Czech Football Association (FA) has appointed Miroslav Koubek as the national team coach for the next two and a half years, giving him time to prepare for the 2026 World Cup play-offs in March.
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The 74-year-old Koubek replaces Ivan Hasek, who was dismissed following a 2-1 defeat to the Faroe Islands in October.
The Czech Republic finished second in Group L, six points behind Croatia, securing a play-off spot against Ireland on March 26 in Prague.
“We will do everything to clinch a World Cup spot,” Koubek told reporters. “This is my task and I have to cope with it. I call it heads or tails… but I’m optimistic and believe that we’ll make it.”
If successful against Ireland, the Czechs will face either Denmark or North Macedonia in the play-off decider on March 31.
The winner of that fixture will join co-hosts Mexico, South Africa, and South Korea in Group A of the World Cup in June and July 2026.
Koubek, a former goalkeeper, has mostly coached Czech top-flight clubs.
His last stint with Viktoria Plzen ended in September after a series of disappointing results, despite leading the club to the Conference League quarter-finals in 2024 and the Europa League last-16 this year.
Pavel Nedved, the national team’s general manager, said Koubek was his preferred choice. “He was really successful in European cups in the past two years,” Nedved stated. “I have a very clear idea about the national team coach and Koubek meets all criteria.”
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Since the Czech Republic became independent in 1993, the team has competed at every European Championship but has qualified for only one World Cup, in 2006, exiting at the group stage.
Cristiano Ronaldo announces his retirement from Portugal international duty after 23 years, ending a career that included 146 goals in 234 games
On 5 November 2026, Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo announced his retirement from international duty, bringing an end to a 23-year career with the national team just as a rift with manager Jorge Jesus appeared to have been patched up.
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The 41-year-old posted a video on social media in which he declared that the time had come to hang up the number 7 jersey.
“Portugal will always be in me,” he said. “The time has come to hang up the number 7 of our national team. I never felt it was exclusively mine, but for 23 years I had the privilege and the responsibility of wearing it.”
Ronaldo added that the decision was not easy and had been taken with both the head and the heart.
He leaves as Portugal’s most capped player and the highest goalscorer in men’s international football history, with 146 goals in 234 appearances.
His career highlights include the Euro 2016 title and two UEFA Nations League triumphs.
The announcement comes a day before Jorge Jesus was due to name his squad for the November Nations League fixtures, following reports that Ronaldo had been included in the preliminary selection after a September fallout over playing time.
In October, Ronaldo had accused Jesus of breaking his word after being left as an unused substitute against Norway, leading him to leave the national team camp.
He later apologised and stated he remained available after any punishment.
The pair were reported to have cleared the air, yet Ronaldo has now chosen to step away entirely.
The decision closes one of the most remarkable international careers the sport has seen and leaves Portugal without its long-serving captain for the remainder of the Nations League campaign.
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Football has been stunned by the sudden end to Ronaldo’s Portugal chapter. While he continues at club level with Al Nassr, the national team must now look to the future without its greatest ever player.
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