The Czech women’s national team may have missed out on gold at the World Championships on home soil, but they can still be proud of their achievement. The national team won silver for the first time ever, receiving their medals in front of a sold-out crowd at the Ostravar Arena in a fantastic atmosphere. The most valuable player of the championships and member of the All Stars selection, Šárka Staňková, shared her impressions of the final battle with Switzerland.
Šárka, you were selected for the All Stars team and named MVP of the World Championships. You are also the first Czech woman in history to receive the award for most valuable player. How do you feel about that, and did you know about it?
I had no idea. My feelings are probably something like, what was it all for… But when I look back on it, I tell myself that I achieved something here and it was good. However, sadness prevails now, and I didn’t show that quality in the final. I think it will gradually sink in, but I can’t see it yet.
The final ended in a narrow defeat. What do you think decided the outcome?
Since we had already played each other in the group stage, both teams were better prepared for each other. The Swiss didn’t allow us to do what had worked against them in the group stage, which was also evident on the other side of the pitch. And that goal? I’m not even sure-it wasn’t a spectacular combination. Both teams wanted it so badly, but fatigue was also taking its toll. Our fans were cheering us on and the atmosphere was incredible again, but the game was cautious. It was a matter of who would grab it, and they scored once.
You had a lot of shots that hit the post and were blocked by the Swiss. What was missing for the goal to go in?
Sometimes luck, sometimes more cleverness on our part. Because we knew that the Swiss wanted to block a lot and were going for it with all their hearts, they just got in the way. And even though we knew that, we still hit the block. It was luck, cleverness, I don’t know.
What do you think of Swiss goalkeeper Lara Heini’s performance, who kept a clean sheet in the final?
I think she performed well throughout the tournament. She has been a quality goalkeeper for a long time and proved it again this time. Even though there were a lot of rebounds, nothing got past her. And when you keep a clean sheet, the quality is definitely there.
You managed to sell out the Ostravar Arena. How do you feel about that?
Unbelievable. Throughout the championships, the crowd was not only our sixth player on the field, but maybe even our seventh. From what the fans showed in the final, when we were running out of strength, we could have taken a lot more from it. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough, but I don’t think I’ll ever experience what we experienced this year again. It was a home world championships, a full Ostravar Arena-it was something beautiful.
How would you sum up your team’s journey in Brno and Ostrava overall?
Our team has done a great job recently. We showed that we have quality and three good lines. I think we can achieve much more in the future. The potential is much greater. We are a young team, and if we continue to train like this, I believe that one day we will achieve incredible things.