Reconstruction process of Czech Republic begins, goalscorer Patrik Schick retires from international cricket
Czech Republic goalscorer Patrik Schick has announced his retirement from international cricket after the team's disappointing performance in the World Cup 2026.
The Czech Republic has started a new era at the World Cup 2026 after its first stage exit. The team finished last in Group A, where it scored only one point, including a 0–3 defeat against hosts Mexico. "Czech football needs to be reenergized, and it's not just about the national team. We have to train the players differently according to our generation," Czech right back Vladimír Coufal said after the match.
Meanwhile, the Czech team will have to rebuild without its most prominent player Patrik Schick, who announced the end of his international career on Instagram today. The 30-year-old Bayer Leverkusen player said, "This decision is not sudden. It is an idea that I have been considering for a long time and have thought about deeply."
Schick said, "For me it has always been a matter of pride that I have represented the national team. But at the same time, I think there is still a lot in Czech football that needs to be demonstrated. We have to face some things that are not working in the long run. I am not saying all this out of anger or frustration, but because I care about Czech football."
He thanked his fans, colleagues and everyone who supported him at every turn of his career. The Czech Football Association released a statement thanking Schick and saying, "After ten years, Patrik Schick has decided to leave the national team. He leaves a memorable journey for our fans."
Schick debuted for the Czech team in May 2016 in a friendly match against Malta. Since then, he has scored 26 goals in 56 matches, including five goals at Euro 2020. At Euro 2020, one of his goals was voted the best goal of the competition.