No, it was not on the bill. Not on Euro. Not as a national player. Because when the Czechs beat neighboring Slovakia 3-1 in the Nations League in September 2020, Holles was not there. off course not. That was never an issue. He also did not appear in the next game, when the Czech Republic played against Scotland in Olomouc. But because two supervisors of the Czech staff test positive, the A-team is not allowed to run against the Scots. A rejection and thus a proper defeat is in the room.
The hole comes off as an emergency tack
But the Czech Republic wants to stop this at all costs and designate a B-team for the game against the British. Then the name Holes appears for the first time. The game is lost 1: 2. But the Czech Republic won! Because Haradek Kralov’s man is convincing. And from now on belongs to the tribe. With one exception: in the away game in Scotland he has to pass. Because of virus…
But this does not end Scottish history for the Slavia Prague midfielder. In the euro, Scotland is once again the opponent of the Czech. The hole comes twenty minutes before the end. Czech Republic won 2-0. And Holes has been regular from game two, a strong 1-1 draw against Croatia.
Philippe Lamm is a role model
In Slavia too, things are not going according to plan for the 28-year-old at first. He is a right-back and is brought down by the top Czech team, but there is a certain Vladimir Kaufal in front of the sun, now playing in the Premier League for West Ham United. The brightest hole is mostly an option. Coach Jindrich Tripisowski is turning the right-back into a defensive midfielder. What if he had known that this decision would plunge his country into mass frenzy a few months later?!
For his part, Holes is not enthusiastic about the change in situation. Trypisowski has it palatable to him with comparisons: “Philip Lam was also a right-back, then a defensive midfielder and captain of the world champion. Why don’t you too?” A daring comparison.
Brother Jiri apologizes for celebrating the goal
But Holes is starting to enjoy the new job. Anyway in the national team. And also at the club level. Slavia wins the double. And in the quarter-finals of the Europa League, Holes shocked the big Arsenal with a 1-1 draw in the 93rd minute at the Emirates. The next day, Brother Jiri writes on the information board in the block where the Holles family lives: “We apologize for the 11 o’clock noise. The reason is all around… » In the second leg in Prague, Arsenal won 4–0. Shameful victory.
The noise level at the holes would have been very high on Sunday. Tomas first booked 1-0 and then magically hung on for Patrick Schick and his 2-0. The crazy thing about it: Tomas already had convulsions, he had run so much. And by the way, he kicks Hollande star Georginio Wijnaldum out of the game. After the game, Holes fought back tears of joy: “A dream, it’s unreal, it was the best game of my life. Hey it’s Euro. That was the round of 16. And we’re on. I can not believe it…”
and now? The Czech Republic dreams of even more. The rival is “only” Denmark. Jaroslav Silhavi’s men had already won the European Championship quarter-finals in 2004. Silhavi was Karel Bruckner’s assistant at the time. So he knows how to field a Dane.