Miroslav Koubek Denies Calling Ireland's Football Style Primitive in Reports

Miroslav Koubek assumed the role in December after Ivan Hasek got the boot in October following a humiliating loss against the Faroe Islands. The 74-year-old is set to launch his international coaching career in Thursdays playoff semi-final held in Prague.

Back in January Irish news sources suggested Koubek had characterised Irelands approach as basic and direct. Then at Wednesdays media briefing an Irish journalist quizzed the manager over the supposed primitive tag.

I said that Ireland plays primitive football? You must have had a bad Google translator or something, Koubek responded.

I never said that never. Ireland have quality players the Premier League and Championship play very good football. I never said they play primitive football so do not put that on me.

The Czech side fully recognises the threat posed by Irelands standout forward Troy Parrott who bagged five goals across his teams successes against Portugal and Hungary securing a playoff position for the Irish.

What I have observed is a big heart Ireland have a big heart a team with a strong mentality so they are certainly a tough opponent, he remarked.

But we will have that mentality too. That is the sort of contest it will be.

As for Parrott he is riding a wave he is in great form things are going well for him. We know how he plays the players have the information. So now we just hope we can limit him as much as possible and stop that wave.

Tomas Soucek lost his captaincy after the West Ham midfielder faced blame for the squad disregarding Czech supporters following their closing group fixture a 6-0 victory against Gibraltar in November yet he stays included in Koubeks lineup.

His career is magnificent wonderful. He is hugely important, the manager stated.

Even if he does not wear the armband for certain reasons you know nothing changes in terms of his authority or his full value to the team.