Goalkeeper Mattei Kovar made two penalty saves against Ireland and another in the penalty shootout against Denmark, contributing significantly to the Czech Republic's return to the World Cup after a 20-year absence thanks to his outstanding performances in the play-off semi-final and final.

After the match, Matthijs de Kovar said, "This is the childhood dream of every player on the field, and it has been a long-term goal for me. Words cannot describe this moment. We are very happy to have made it back to the World Cup after 20 years. This feeling is wonderful."

The Czech Republic defeated Ireland on penalties in the recent semi-final, after trailing by two goals. In their match against Denmark, the team twice took the lead but ultimately went to penalties. After the game, goalkeeper Mattei Kovar said, "This experience is unprecedented in my career, but I believed I could save at least one or two penalties. Denmark missed two penalties, and I saved one. After that, I hoped my teammates could score three or four, and thank God, we did."

This season has also been fruitful for him, with the team nearing its 27th league title and him poised to add to the club's tally. The Czech Republic will face hosts Mexico, South Africa, and South Korea in Group A of the World Cup, marking their return to the World Cup finals after a 20-year absence.

Mattei Kovar continued, “The game has just ended, and it all feels unreal. I think it will take me a few days, when I have time to myself, to truly realize what we accomplished as a team. Right now, we just want to enjoy this moment to the fullest and are very happy to have brought this joy to the fans and the entire Czech people.”

"Our team atmosphere is excellent, and most importantly, the players are very united. The first game against Ireland was a battle of wills, seeing who wanted to win more, and we did. Today was another tough game, and we executed the coach's tactics almost perfectly. Of course, there is still room for improvement in set pieces, but these ten days have been incredible. The team has performed exceptionally well, and qualifying for the World Cup is well-deserved."

Image source: Internet/Czech National Team Official Website