Czech national team captain Tomáš Souček says Thursday night's World Cup qualifier against Croatia at home will be the team's most important match since Euro 2024 and a crucial moment to prove its quality.

The Czech Republic and Croatia are currently tied at the top of Group L with 12 points, but Croatia leads on goal difference and has played one game less. The winner of this match will take the top spot with a three-point advantage.

In a pre-match interview, Soucek emphasized: "This is an opportunity to show our abilities. We all bear the responsibility and do not want to experience the disappointment of the past. As long as there is a chance, we will do our best to qualify for the World Cup."

Soucek recently completed a three-match Premier League suspension and, to maintain his form, played the full match for the U21s on September 30th. He revealed at the pre-match press conference that he was ready: "I feel good, the training has been intense, and I'm back to form."

In the previous match between the Czech Republic and Croatia, the Czech Republic suffered a crushing 1-5 defeat. Although Soucek once equalized the score, he was unable to recover. In response, he said: "We must be better in ball possession and concentration, because Croatia will punish any mistakes."

As captain of the national team, Soucek has worn the armband in 44 matches since taking over in 2021, becoming a key figure in the locker room. He believes the home fans will be the key to the team's success: "The passion of Czech fans has been unprecedented over the past year. We are not just 26 players playing together, but an entire country fighting together."

This match not only determined the Czech Republic's chances of finishing first in the group, but also served as a crucial step in their bid to avoid the play-offs. Soucek and his teammates had a clear goal, striving for direct qualification to the World Cup with unwavering faith and unity.