Czech media point to Kovar, the closer is frustrated

Last night, the match South Korea - Czechia was scheduled in Pool A in Guadalajara. At Czechia, PSV goalkeeper Matej Kovar was under the bar and managed to stand out in the second half with some good saves, keeping the Czechs in the match.

Despite a 0-1 lead for Czechia in minute 59, it was South Korea that ultimately thoroughly deserved to take the full spoils in the first group match. After the match, Kovar was extremely disappointed and the PSV goalkeeper wanted nothing to do with important saves.

''The saves weren't that important, considering we are standing on zero points. You could see that the Koreans were skilful with the ball. If the ball was played in the channel, someone always went deep, with which they created danger. We need to watch the footage carefully and learn from it,'' Kovar told the Czech press after the match.

The next match Kovar & co. will play against South Africa, which was beaten by the co-organizer Mexico (2-0). ''Every match is different and we have six or seven days to prepare properly. Because we absolutely need those three points,'' the PSV player looks ahead to the clash with the host of the 2010 World Cup.

The media in the Czech Republic, unlike Kovar himself, did speak highly of the performances of the goalkeeper. ''There is no doubt that without his saves the Czechs would have been in an even worse position. He had four saves against Korea, the most difficult one at the beginning of the second half, when he twice neutralised a shot from Hwang and a subsequent chance'', writes the outlet iDNES.

iSport also praises the performance of the PSV player. ''He made his first save against the PSG player Lee after a quarter of an hour had been played. Then Kovár came up with an important double save on a strangely placed shot from close range, to then also neutralize a chance for Son'', the outlet said.