[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"football-site-config":3,"world-cup-status-en":27,"news-detail-czech-republic-beat-kosovo-2-1-what-it-means-for-world-cup":61,"news-related-czech-republic-beat-kosovo-2-1-what-it-means-for-world-cup-en":104,"news-related-match-czech-republic-beat-kosovo-2-1-what-it-means-for-world-cup-en":215},{"adSlots":4,"affiliateMode":5,"brandName":6,"contentStrategy":7,"currency":8,"friendLinks":9,"homepageLayoutKey":10,"leagueFocus":11,"locale":12,"planVisibility":13,"seoDescription":14,"seoTitleTemplate":15,"siteCode":10,"siteName":6,"siteType":10,"subscriptionMode":5,"timezone":16,"id":17,"tenantID":18,"primaryDomain":19,"countryCode":20,"logoUrl":21,"faviconUrl":21,"theme":22,"seoKeywords":24,"status":25,"ads":4,"focusLeagues":26,"affiliatePolicies":26},[],"shared","Football Prediction Platform","scores_predictions","USD",[],"main",[],"en-US",[],"Football fixtures, results, free predictions, subscriptions, and clearly labeled partner links.","{page} | Football Prediction Platform","America\u002FNew_York",323900000000000000,1,"football.easytestdev.online","US","",{"primaryColor":23},"#1677ff","football predictions, football fixtures, football results","active",null,{"active":28,"leagueId":29,"leagueName":30,"leagueImagePath":31,"seasonId":32,"seasonName":33,"startingAt":34,"endingAt":35,"daysToStart":36,"daysToEnd":37,"phase":38,"includeQualifying":39,"hostCities":40},true,"326135624916537344","World Cup","https:\u002F\u002Fmedia.api-sports.io\u002Ffootball\u002Fleagues\u002F1.png","326255613308833792","2026\u002F2027","2026-06-11","2026-06-28",-37,-20,"finished_recent",false,[41,42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49,50,51,52,53,54,55,56,57,58,59,60],"Atlanta","Boston","Dallas","East Rutherford","Guadalajara","Houston","Kansas City","Los Angeles","Mexico City","Miami","Monterrey","New-York","New York New Jersey","Philadelphia","San-Francisco","San Francisco Bay Area","Seattle","Toronto","Vancouver","Zapopan",{"article":62},{"awayTeamId":63,"awayTeamName":64,"body":65,"category":66,"excerpt":67,"homeTeamId":68,"homeTeamName":69,"id":70,"leagueId":29,"leagueName":30,"matchId":71,"matchName":72,"publishedAt":73,"slug":74,"sourceName":75,"sourceURL":76,"teamId":77,"teamName":78,"teamIds":79,"teamNames":91,"title":103},"326222712622026752","South Africa","The Czech Republic launched their World Cup preparations in confident fashion on Sunday, dispatching Kosovo 2-1 at Prague's Epet Arena. Less than two weeks before the tournament begins, Miroslav Koubek's side delivered a performance that blended early ruthlessness with late-game composure, offering a blueprint for what they hope to achieve on the global stage.\n\nKosovo arrived in the Czech capital still nursing the wounds of a devastating playoff elimination at the hands of Turkey. Their quest for a place at the World Cup had ended in heartbreak, and this friendly was meant to provide a measure of redemption and a chance to restore battered confidence. Yet from the opening whistle, it was the hosts who seized control, reminding everyone why they are part of the 32-team field.\n\nThe breakthrough came after just 12 minutes, as Tomas Ladra found the back of the net with a finish that set the tone for the afternoon. The goal stemmed from sustained pressure that pinned Kosovo deep, and Ladra’s clinical strike gave the home crowd an early reason to cheer. Just 20 minutes later, Adam Hlozek doubled the advantage, punishing a faltering Kosovo defense that was struggling to cope with the Czech Republic’s movement and intent. At 2-0, the contest already felt like a formality.\n\nKosovo’s troubles were emblematic of a team that has yet to recover from its World Cup near-miss. The mental scars from the Turkey defeat appeared to linger, as misplaced passes and defensive lapses invited Czech pressure. The Kosovo coaching staff would have watched with frustration as their side failed to match the intensity required against a motivated opponent. The first half was a stark reminder of the gap that still exists between established contenders and those still chasing elite status.\n\nAfter the interval, the Czech Republic inevitably eased off the accelerator, and Kosovo slowly began to claw their way back into the match. Substitutions injected fresh legs, and the introduction of Lindon Emerllahu proved inspired. With just under ten minutes remaining, the substitute reduced the deficit, slotting home to make it 2-1 and giving Kosovo a flicker of hope. The goal was a reward for persistence but also a warning for the Czechs about the dangers of losing focus.\n\nHowever, the experienced Czech side did not buckle. Koubek’s men managed the closing stages with a maturity that bodes well for the high-pressure encounters that await in the World Cup group stage. They absorbed late pressure, maintained their shape, and saw out the victory without further alarm. In a tournament setting, that ability to close out games could prove invaluable.\n\nThe win serves as an important psychological boost for a squad that will face Mexico, South Africa, and South Korea in Group A. None of those opponents will be pushovers, and the Czech Republic will need to combine their first-half sharpness with second-half resilience to advance. The performance against Kosovo, while far from perfect, showcased the dual qualities that can make them difficult to beat.\n\nFor Kosovo, the defeat adds to a difficult post-playoff chapter. While Emerllahu’s goal offered a glimmer of positivity, the overall display highlighted the need for a reset. The team must now regroup and find a way to harness the pain of elimination into future progress. Friendly defeats are seldom devastating, but this one underlined the challenges ahead.\n\nLooking ahead, the Czech Republic have one final rehearsal on June 5 against Guatemala. That match will be the last chance for Koubek to fine-tune his tactics and assess his squad before the World Cup opener. For players on the fringes, it represents an opportunity to stake a claim. For the team as a whole, it is a critical moment to build on the momentum generated by this victory.\n\nIn the end, a comfortable win by the scoreline, if not always by the flow of play, has given the Czech Republic exactly the start they wanted. Kosovo will head home disappointed but with lessons learned. The World Cup is now just around the corner, and for the Czechs, the journey has begun in earnest.\n\nBased on reporting from L'Equipe.","news","Czech Republic beat Kosovo 2-1 in a friendly, kicking off World Cup prep. Ladra and Hlozek scored. Final warm-up vs Guatemala on June 5 before Group A.","326222712290676736","Czechia","336569618682351617","327115064089776128","Czechia vs South Africa","2026-05-31T15:59:55Z","czech-republic-beat-kosovo-2-1-what-it-means-for-world-cup","L'Equipe","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.lequipe.fr\u002FFootball\u002FActualites\u002FLa-tchequie-domine-le-kosovo-en-match-amical-de-preparation-a-la-coupe-du-monde\u002F1680627#at_medium=RSS_feeds","326257664961024000","Kosovo",[77,68,63,80,81,82,83,84,85,86,87,88,89,90],"326257678466682880","326222712936599552","326222767416414208","326255039846813696","326255041625198592","326255048692600832","326257536296554496","326222711946743808","326257769613103104","326222711908995072","326257576805142528",[78,69,64,92,93,94,95,96,97,98,99,100,101,102],"Guatemala","Paraguay","Lesotho","FK Partizan","Partizani","Corinthians","Auxerre","South Korea","Capital","Mexico","Tune","Czech Republic beat Kosovo 2-1: What it means for World Cup",[105,135,161,186],{"awayTeamId":-1,"awayTeamName":-1,"body":-1,"category":66,"excerpt":106,"homeTeamId":-1,"homeTeamName":-1,"id":107,"leagueId":29,"leagueName":30,"matchId":108,"matchName":21,"publishedAt":109,"slug":110,"sourceName":75,"sourceURL":111,"teamId":112,"teamName":113,"teamIds":114,"teamNames":124,"title":134},"Guéla Doué scored and assisted as Ivory Coast beat France 2-1 in a friendly, outshining his brother Désiré who featured for Les Bleus in the sibling showdown.","338200147588550657","0","2026-06-05T04:00:00Z","guela-doue-downs-brother-s-france-ivorian-2-1-win","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.lequipe.fr\u002FFootball\u002FArticle\u002FUn-but-et-une-passe-decisive-contre-la-france-la-soiree-de-reve-pour-guela-doue-avec-la-cote-d-ivoire\u002F1681944#at_medium=RSS_feeds","326222712533946368","Ivory Coast",[112,115,116,117,118,82,119,86,120,121,122,123],"326222711447621632","326255037997125632","326257536145559552","326222711401484288","326257536078450688","326257537865224192","326257686389723136","326257535994564608","326222707169431552",[113,125,126,127,128,94,129,98,130,131,132,133],"France","Strasbourg","Rennes","Belgium","Paris Saint Germain","Estoril","Together","Nantes","Anderlecht","Guéla Doué downs brother's France: Ivorian 2-1 win",{"awayTeamId":63,"awayTeamName":64,"body":-1,"category":66,"excerpt":136,"homeTeamId":89,"homeTeamName":101,"id":137,"leagueId":29,"leagueName":30,"matchId":138,"matchName":139,"publishedAt":140,"slug":141,"sourceName":142,"sourceURL":143,"teamId":89,"teamName":101,"teamIds":144,"teamNames":152,"title":160},"Shakira & Burna Boy sing 'Dai Dai' at 2026 World Cup opener June 11 in Mexico City, with J Balvin, Tyla. Buble, Morissette, Perry, Future lead other ceremonies.","338120887364489217","327115024327774208","Mexico vs South Africa","2026-06-04T22:48:54Z","shakira-burna-boy-to-open-2026-world-cup-in-mexico","BBC Sport","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fsport\u002Ffootball\u002Farticles\u002Fc8939ykg3qgo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss",[89,63,81,145,146,123,147,148,149,150,151],"326222713142120448","326257593007738880","326222713016291328","326257563345620992","326257565195309056","326222711623782400","326257791226351616",[101,64,93,153,154,133,155,156,157,158,159],"Canada","Azteca","USA","Heracles","Barcelona","Colombia","Nigeria","Shakira, Burna Boy to Open 2026 World Cup in Mexico",{"awayTeamId":162,"awayTeamName":163,"body":-1,"category":66,"excerpt":164,"homeTeamId":115,"homeTeamName":125,"id":165,"leagueId":29,"leagueName":30,"matchId":166,"matchName":167,"publishedAt":168,"slug":169,"sourceName":75,"sourceURL":170,"teamId":112,"teamName":113,"teamIds":171,"teamNames":178,"title":185},"326222711783165952","Senegal","France lose first friendly under Deschamps, 2-1 to Ivory Coast in Nantes, revealing defensive issues 10 days before World Cup start vs Senegal.","338126221931974657","327115052106649600","France vs Senegal","2026-06-04T22:34:17Z","bleus-lose-friendly-under-deschamps-2-1-to-ivory-coast","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.lequipe.fr\u002FFootball\u002FArticle\u002FUne-defaite-ni-vraiment-grave-ni-completement-anodine-pour-les-bleus-a-dix-jours-de-leur-entree-en-scene-au-mondial\u002F1681936#at_medium=RSS_feeds",[112,115,162,122,172,81,82,83,84,173,120,174,175,176,177,123],"326257810885054464","326257536413995008","326257541157752832","326257545754710016","326257554411753472","326257789708013568",[113,125,163,132,179,93,94,95,96,180,130,181,182,183,184,133],"York","Paris FC","Galatasaray","Newcastle","Newcastle Jets","China","Bleus Lose Friendly Under Deschamps: 2-1 to Ivory Coast",{"awayTeamId":187,"awayTeamName":188,"body":-1,"category":66,"excerpt":189,"homeTeamId":115,"homeTeamName":125,"id":190,"leagueId":29,"leagueName":30,"matchId":191,"matchName":192,"publishedAt":193,"slug":194,"sourceName":75,"sourceURL":195,"teamId":115,"teamName":125,"teamIds":196,"teamNames":205,"title":214},"326222712819159040","Iraq","Lucas Hernandez: France's 1-2 friendly loss to Ivory Coast is better now than June 16 World Cup opener vs Senegal, with Northern Ireland test next.","338124609578602497","327115069915664384","France vs Iraq","2026-06-04T22:32:57Z","hernandez-france-loss-better-now-than-june-16","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.lequipe.fr\u002FFootball\u002FActualites\u002FLucas-hernandez-apres-la-defaite-1-2-de-la-france-contre-la-cote-d-ivoire\u002F1681942#at_medium=RSS_feeds",[115,187,112,162,197,198,199,120,174,200,201,202,203,204],"326257664243798016","326257535885512704","326222712013852672","326257556060114944","326257565845426176","326257695210344448","326257796423094272","326222712898850816",[125,188,113,163,206,207,208,130,181,209,210,211,212,213],"Northern Ireland","Lille","Iran","Estudiantes L.P.","Mallorca","Signal","Russia","Qatar","Hernandez: France Loss Better Now Than June 16",{"awayScore":216,"awayTeam":217,"description":221,"homeScore":216,"homeTeam":222,"id":71,"kickoffAt":226,"length":227,"leagueId":29,"leagueName":30,"leagueSlug":228,"probabilityLabel":30,"slug":229,"status":230,"tvStations":231,"venueCity":41,"venueName":232},0,{"code":218,"id":63,"imagePath":219,"name":64,"slug":220},"AWY","https:\u002F\u002Fmedia.api-sports.io\u002Ffootball\u002Fteams\u002F1531.png","south-africa","This World Cup group stage encounter carries high stakes. Czech Republic need a win to stay in contention for knockout qualification, while South Africa must avoid defeat to remain realistic. The result will significantly shape the group’s final standings.",{"code":223,"id":68,"imagePath":224,"name":69,"slug":225},"HME","https:\u002F\u002Fmedia.api-sports.io\u002Ffootball\u002Fteams\u002F770.png","czech-republic","2026-06-18T16:00:00Z",90,"world-cup","czech-republic-vs-south-africa-2026-06-18","scheduled",[],"Mercedes-Benz Stadium"]