Monday, June 28, 2021 at 11:40 am• Rian Rosendaal

Tomás Galásek gave Tomas Soucek a blissful moment on Sunday evening after the 0-2 victory over the Dutch national team in the eighth final of the European Championship. The assistant national coach of the Czech Republic used his contacts within the technical staff of the Dutch to obtain the Memphis Depay shirt. Soucek is a great admirer of the attacker from the Netherlands and Barcelona.

Galásek felt for the staff of the Dutch national team after the elimination in Budapest. He still knows several people from his period as an Ajax player. “I wanted to speak to them, of course, but I was actually also sent to them with an assignment,” emphasizes the right hand of national coach Jaroslav Silhavy in conversation with the NOS. “Our midfielder Tomas Soucek really wanted a shirt from Memphis Depay, a great example for him. Luckily I was able to arrange that for him.”

The former midfielder of Ajax and Willem II, among others, speaks of a ‘magical evening’ for the Czechs in Budapest. “Absolutely. This is very special for us,” said the Czech coach, who eventually manages to find a Dutch word to describe his country’s stunt at the European Championship. “Goosebumps! That’s it: goosebumps all night long. I can’t believe it. I’m so glad we managed this.”

Galásek is overjoyed that the Czech Republic’s battle plan turned out well in the Puskás Arena. After the red card for Matthijs de Ligt in the second half, the job was done with a surplus by goals from Tomas Holes and Patrik Schick. “The Dutch can of course play football very well, but we knew that there would be opportunities if we could disrupt their game.” In the quarterfinals of the European Championship in Baku, the meeting with Denmark awaits on Saturday.

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