Celtic striker Tomáš Čvančara may be finding his rhythm in Glasgow—but back home, his international future has just taken a dramatic turn.
The 25-year-old was the headline omission from Czechia’s squad for their crucial World Cup playoff clash against Ireland, sparking immediate controversy and debate. And the reason behind it? His own words.
Form returns—but opportunity disappears
Čvančara has started to show exactly why Celtic brought him in on loan from Borussia Mönchengladbach.
His goal in the comeback win over Motherwell at the weekend continued a promising run of form, reigniting belief that he could play a key role in the Hoops’ push for silverware this season.
That resurgence had led to growing calls for a national team recall—especially given he hasn’t featured for Czechia in over 18 months.
But instead of a comeback, he’s been left out entirely.
Manager delivers brutal response
New Czechia boss Miroslav Koubek made it clear that the decision wasn’t about form—it was about mentality.
Speaking after naming his squad, the 74-year-old directly referenced Čvančara’s recent comments about prioritising club football over international duty.
“He (Čvančara) has stated in recent weeks that the national team is not a priority for him,”
“I say that, for me as a coach, it is a priority to take players for whom the national team is a priority.”
It’s a firm stance—and one that leaves little room for interpretation.
Koubek doubled down on that approach when outlining how he selected his squad for the high-stakes playoff run.
“We have chosen players who are the right soldiers for this war,”
With a semi-final against Ireland looming in Prague, and a potential final against Denmark or North Macedonia for a place at the World Cup in June, the message is clear: commitment comes before everything else.
Competition was already fierce
Even without the controversy, breaking into this Czechia side wouldn’t have been easy.
Bayer Leverkusen’s prolific forward Patrik Schick is expected to lead the line, while Koubek has opted to fill out his attacking options with players based in the domestic league.
That decision, combined with Čvančara’s comments, ultimately sealed his fate.
Bigger issues behind the scenes
Čvančara’s omission is just one part of a wider story surrounding the national team.
The squad is still dealing with fallout from recent controversies, including disciplinary tensions following the November international window. Players reportedly had match fees withheld after failing to acknowledge supporters following a routine win over Gibraltar—a decision that highlighted growing cracks within the camp.
That period also saw a shock defeat to the Faroe Islands, which cost Czechia automatic qualification and ultimately led to Ivan Hasek’s departure.
Leadership has since been a major talking point.
Captain Tomáš Souček was stripped of the armband after being held responsible for dressing-room issues, with the Czech FA moving quickly to reset the hierarchy.
Sporting director Pavel Nedvěd confirmed that a new captain has already been chosen—but the identity remains under wraps.
“We have decided but we won’t say,”
“The selected candidate already knows the final decision – I won’t dispute that – but the players will be the first to know.”
Nedvěd added further insight into the decision-making process:
“It was not done through ballots like in the past when it was sometimes done that way.
“We decided who would be the captain and appointed his deputy.
“There was some consultation with the leading candidates.
“I’ve been here a little longer than the coach so I’ve sensed the situation in the team. You can feel how it works and who is the leader in it. The decision was quite simple and clear.”
Celtic could be the real winners
While the situation may look like a setback for Čvančara, it could quietly benefit Celtic at a crucial stage of the season.
With no international distractions, the striker now has a clear runway to focus entirely on club football—just as he stated.
And with the title race intensifying and silverware still on the line, that focus could make all the difference.
For Čvančara, the challenge is now simple:
Back up his words with performances.