Tomas Cvancara is starting to make his mark at Celtic—but off the pitch, a growing international controversy is adding an unexpected edge to his story.
The striker netted just his second goal for the club at the weekend, coolly stepping up to convert a penalty against Motherwell after taking responsibility from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. It was a moment that showed confidence—and perhaps a glimpse of the role he wants to play in Celtic’s title run-in.
Small moments, growing impact
Cvancara’s time in Glasgow hasn’t quite gone as he may have imagined in terms of minutes, but there have been flashes of real contribution.
Early in his Celtic spell, he delivered a key assist in the draw against Hearts before following it up with a goal against Falkirk. Now, with another strike added to his tally, there are signs he’s beginning to find rhythm at an important stage of the season.
But just as his club form starts to pick up, attention has shifted elsewhere.
International comments spark fallout
Ahead of the current international break, Cvancara made it clear where his priorities lie—and it hasn’t gone down well back home.
The Czech forward openly admitted that club football was his main focus, playing down the importance of international duty at this stage of his career.
That stance has now come back to haunt him.
National team boss Miroslav Koubek has responded decisively, leaving Cvancara out of the latest squad for upcoming World Cup qualifiers—including a key clash against Ireland.
Speaking after naming his squad, Koubek didn’t hold back:
“We considered what awaits us and what mentality is suitable for this game.
“Cvancara expressed himself that the national team is not a priority for him.
“As a coach, I say that it is not a priority for me to take a player for whom the national team is not a priority.” [SunSport]
It’s a firm message—and one that underlines just how seriously international commitment is taken at that level.
Cvancara’s stance remains clear
The comments that sparked the situation were equally direct.
“It would be an honour, but to be honest, it’s not my goal for the future.
“I would say I want to focus more on the club.”
There’s no ambiguity there. Cvancara has made a conscious decision to prioritise his development and impact at club level—and for now, that means Celtic comes first.
Celtic focus could be a blessing in disguise
From a Celtic perspective, the situation may not be seen as a negative.
With a tight title race unfolding and the Scottish Cup still within reach, having a striker fully focused on club duties could prove valuable in the weeks ahead. Less travel, fewer distractions, and more time on the training pitch could all work in his favour.
And ultimately, supporters will judge him on one thing—output.
If Cvancara continues to deliver goals and decisive moments as Celtic push for silverware, the noise from international level will quickly fade into the background.
For now, the message is simple:
Cvancara has chosen his priority.
Now he has to prove it’s the right call.