Czech Republic vs Saudi Arabia
One of the more fascinating fixtures of the international weekend takes place on Monday at the Malsovicka Arena, when the International Friendly Czech Republic and Saudi Arabia is the entertainment on offer.
As one of the SBOTOP picks of the games to look out for, we’ve gone a little left field to take a look at a member of Europe’s lower-profile nations and an emerging football power of the Middle East. Ivan Hasek’s Czechs are in a tussle to earn an automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup finals with Croatia, but a play-off place looks more likely, despite the Czechs picking up a vital win over Montenegro on Friday.
Meanwhile, the Arabian Green Falcons, managed by Herve Renard, had a 2-1 win over North Macedonia on Friday night at the Viktorian Stadium in Prague, and now the Saudis’ tour of central and eastern Europe continues in the beautiful and historic city of Vienna. There is serious business for Saudi Arabia, too, on the horizon, as they prepare for next month’s fourth round of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.
These two nations are forging a stronger relationship away from sport. Last week, the Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan met with his Czech opposite number, Jan Lipavsky, to discuss international matters of mutual concern.
And now the football men come face to face in a more entertaining prospect, so let’s take a look at the latest International Friendly 2025 news.
Talking Points
Czech’s World Cup campaign is back on track
A2-0 win over Montenegro lifted the Czechs to the top spot in European Qualifying Group L, three points ahead of Croatia, who have two games in hand. So, while their destiny is out of their hands to some degree, at least Hasek’s men are back in the hunt.
The Czechs scored at either end of the game as Viktoria Plzen midfielder Lukas Cerv scored in three minutes, and 27-year-old right wing midfielder Vaclav Cerny scored deep into injury time to make it eight goals in 27 appearances. The Besiktas star, who transferred from Wolfsburg in the summer for a sum of €7 million, is a lively customer in a team with some big names.
Captained by West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek, who has 15 goals in 81 caps for the Czechs, which makes him the eighth-most capped player in the nation’s rich history, the team also boasts Bayer Leverkusen’s 29-year-old hitman Patrik Schick, who has 24 goals in 46 internationals. Die Werkself have made a poor start to the 2025/26 campaign and have seen some key departures over the summer. However, Schick has remained loyal, and, as a striker at the peak of his powers, he has plenty to offer for club and country.
Schick may line up alongside Matej Vydra, now at Viktoria Plzen, in a strike partnership which would combine pace and strength in a 4-4-2 system.
Renard’s return makes Saudi stronger
It’s impossible to ignore the progress of the oil states in football. The Saudi Pro League is attracting bigger names by the year, with former Inter Milan manager Simone Inzaghi joining Al-Hilal in the summer. And when the 56-year-old Renard took over the Falcons for the second time after the departure of Roberto Mancini last year, he renewed a relationship that has overseen a growth in the Green Falcons’ world standing.
Saudi Arabia lost 2-0 to eventual winners Mexico in the CONCACAF Gold Cup quarter-final back in June, and they showed again, coming from behind to win 2-1 against North Macedonia, that they are an ever-improving group. Feras Al-Buraikan levelled for the Falcons just before the break, and Abdullah Al-Hamdan scored the winner on 78 minutes.
Al-Ahli winger Al Buraikan has 11 goals from 56 games, a good return at 25 years old, while Al Ittihad’s Saleh Al-Shehri, with 17 goals from 44 games, is the leading scorer in the current group.
At the back, RC Lens right-back Salem Abdulhalid is the most capped defender, with 48. He moved from Al-Hilal to Roma last year, and the Giallorossi, under new manager Gian Piero Gasperini, have sent Abdulhalid out on loan to get experience in France.
History
The Czech Republic has a rich history in football as World Cup runners-up in 1934 and 1962, while the Saudis reached the Round of 16 in 1994 at the USA.
This is the first time these two teams have met, but in terms of recent form, the Czechs have had four wins in 2025, punctuated by that 5-1 smacking at the hands of Croatia.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s win over North Macedonia made it two victories, one draw, and two defeats from their last five outings.
Betting Tip
Only 18 places separate these two nations in the FIFA World Rankings, with the Czechs at 41st and the Green Falcons at 59th.
But the International Friendly 2025 betting odds are pointing firmly to a European triumph, and that’s where I’m heading, with the draw at 3.47 and a Saudi win at 5.84 certainly not out of the question.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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