Preview: Czech Republic vs. Estonia - prediction, team news, lineups

Czech Republic will be looking to sneak into second position in Group E, securing a World Cup 2022 qualification playoff spot in the process, when they host Estonia on Tuesday night.

The home side are currently third in the section, three points behind second-placed Wales, while Estonia are fourth, one point ahead of fifth-placed Belarus, who have played all eight of their matches.

Match preview

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Czech Republic warmed up for this vital World Cup qualifier with a 7-0 friendly victory over Kuwait on Thursday, and they must now beat Estonia on Tuesday to stand any chance of claiming second position in Group E.

Indeed, Jaroslav Silhavy's side are currently third in the section, three points behind second-placed Wales, who are actually already guaranteed a playoff position due to their UEFA Nations League performance.

Wales will finish their group-stage campaign at home to Belgium, who have comfortably topped the section, picking up 19 points from their seven matches to secure their spot at the 2022 World Cup.

Czech Republic, who have won three, drawn two and lost two of their seven matches in Group E, recorded a 2-0 victory away to Belarus in their last World Cup qualification clash on October 11.

The Czechs have not actually qualified for the finals of a World Cup since 2006, when they were eliminated in the group stage, but they did enjoy an impressive Euro 2020, reaching the quarter-finals of the competition.

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Estonia, meanwhile, will enter Tuesday's contest off the back of a 3-1 defeat in Belgium on Saturday, with Christian Benteke, Yannick Carrasco and Thorgan Hazard on the scoresheet for the home side.

It was always to be difficult for the Blueshirts to compete in this section, and they have never qualified for the finals of a World Cup, so it is not a surprise to see them struggling towards the bottom.

That said, Estonia will not finish at the foot of the group, with Belarus completing their campaign on three points, while Thomas Haberli's team have picked up four points from seven matches to sit fourth.

The Northern European country picked up a point away to Wales on September 8 before overcoming Belarus 2-0 on home soil one month later, but they then lost at home to Wales in the reverse fixture before suffering the defeat to Belgium on Saturday evening.

Team News

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Czech Republic were unable to select star forward Patrik Schick in their squad due to an ankle injury, meaning that Michael Krmencik is expected to get the nod through the middle on Tuesday.

There will be at least a couple of changes from the side that started the friendly victory over Kuwait, with Tomas Vaclik set to return between the sticks, while Matej Vydra is also likely to come into the side.

Tomas Soucek and Antonin Barak are certain to feature in midfield, with Lukas Masopust potentially missing out if, as expected, Vydra earns a recall on Tuesday.

Estonia, meanwhile, have no fresh injury concerns from the side that took to the field for Saturday's contest with section leaders Belgium.

Head coach Haberli will have been pleased with what he saw from his team for long stages, but it seems likely that there will be at least a couple of alterations, with Rauno Sappinen and Sander Puri pushing to come into the XI.

Konstantin Vassiljev is the captain and leading goalscorer in the squad with 25, and the 37-year-old is again expected to be in the side for this match.

Czech Republic possible starting lineup:

Vaclik; Coufal, Brabec, Zima, Mateju; Sadliek, Soucek; Pesek, Barak, Vydra; Krmencik

Estonia possible starting lineup:

Igonen; Paskotsi, Tamm, Mets; Puri, Poom, Kreida, Vassiljev, Sappinen; Zenjov, Anier

We say: Czech Republic 2-0 Estonia

Czech Republic simply need to win on Tuesday and see where that takes them; we are expecting the hosts to triumph in routine fashion, and they will be keeping a close eye on what is happening between Wales and Belgium in Cardiff.