Vladimír Coufal

Internationals | Coufal's Czech Republic earn Nations League promotion

Vladimír Coufal started as Czech Republic sealed promotion to UEFA Nations League A with a 2-1 victory over Georgia on Tuesday night.

The Czechs went into the clash in Olomouc knowing three points would confirm top spot in League B Group 1 - and they achieved just that thanks to first half goals from Pavel Šulc and Adam Hložek.

Georgia's Georges Mikautadze pulled one back after the break to ensure a nervy conclusion, but Coufal - who earned his 51st senior cap on the night - and his team had done enough to make sure of the win.

The result ensured Czech Republic would hold off Ukraine, Georgia and Albania to top a tight group, which ended with all four teams separated by just four points.

Tomáš Souček was absent for the fixture due to a suspension picked up for accumulating two yellow cards over the course of the six-game campaign.

Their attentions will now turn to qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the draw set to take place next month.

Elsewhere on Tuesday, Academy midfielder Gabriel Caliste featured for the Mauritius senior team, as they lost 1-0 in a friendly against Hong Kong, while Lewis Orford was a late introduction in England U19's 0-0 draw with Belgium.

Finlay Herrick was an unused subsitute in the same game, as the Young Lions completed the UEFA U19 European Championship Qualifying Round undefeated. They now move on to the Elite Round, to be played in the Spring.

Finally, Kaelan Casey played the 90 minutes in England Men's Elite Squad's (formerly Under-20s) 1-1 draw in Poland, coming from behind to secure a share of the spoils thanks to Dominic Ballard's 50th minute strike.
 

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