Group A
Czech Republic v England
Sinobo Stadium, Praque, Czech Republic
11 October 2019
The last time England visited Praque was in 1992 when they played a friendly against Czechoslovakia at Stadion Evzena Rosickeho. The score on that day was 2:2. The 3 other times the Three Lions had visited Prague were played at the Letna stadium in 1973 (1:1), 1934 (1:2) and in 1908 (0:4) when the country was called Bohemia. This would be the first game at the Eden Arena (Sinobo Stadium), the home of Slavia Prague.
The Czech FA gave England 3005 tickets priced at £35 and 700 priced at £95. So a total allocation of 3705 tickets against 5803 registrations from the Travel Club, so lots of disappointed members. Luckily me and Mrs H were successful. Get in✊
Group A has been a bit of a 'walk in the park' for the high scoring Three Lions, could the Czech Republic pour some cold water on the celebrations as they themselves strive for qualification instead of Group rivals Kosovo.
The Eden Arena (sponsor's name: Sinobo Stadium) has a capacity of 19,780 and is the largest and most modern stadium in the Czech Republic. The stadium opened in May 2008 following investment from the CEFC China Energy Company who own the stadium outright.
Attendance:18,651
After leaving my rucksack in the airport and then having to go back out to the airport to retrieve it, it was time for a well earned Pilsner Urquell in the hostel bar.
The lights are guiding us inside
We ended up in our favourite Prague Bar, 'The Golden Tiger'. Not been here since Feb 16. A cracking night😎
Traditional beer halls are hard to beat
No social media = phones on the table and get the tab rolling
Last orders in the Absinthe Bar
Day 2 and we move to posher digs
Still hungover 😂
Bed looks inviting - but we need breakfast.
Retracing our steps from last night.
We have breakfast here at the Svejk restaurant. Svejk is a fictional character from Prague, who is the star of an unfinished satirical comedy. He is known as 'Good Soldier Svejk' and was introduced into literature after the outbreak of WW1 when he pledges his allegiance to the Austrian Emperor but gets arrested by the Secret Police because they can't work out if he is an imbecile or just trying to undermine the war effort.The much loved soldier can be seen everywhere in Prague.
The Svejk restaurant is massive
and can seat a ridiculous 400+ people
The ceilings show an scene from the book
After lunch we visit the 63.5 metre tall
Observation Tower on Petrin Hill
A great view of Charles Bridge and the old town
A bit windy up top as we ascend the 299 steps
Memorial of the Second Resistance Movement against the Nazis in occupied Czechoslovakia (1938-45).
Charles Bridge spanning the Vltava River
The next task is collecting our tickets so we make
our way to the Hilton in Prague old town
A bite of Boar Sausage washed
down with Czech Beer. Paradise!
Next stop 'U Vejodu' for refreshments
Tickets secured now let the fun begin
'Hanging Man' in the old town
Powder Tower is one of the original Prague gates and separates the Old and New Town
'Church of Our Lady before Tyn' in the Old Town Square
Astronomical Clock
Big Bear is doing a 'roaring' trade on selfies
Old Town Square in the lights
Church of St Nicholas
The night we meet the lovely Olga from Ekaterinburg
'Ольга из Екатеринбурга'
Olga's hubby - 'Big Andrey'
'Большая Андрея'
And a random stranger from England
"Time for bed" said Zebbedie😂
Day 3 and we head to Charles Bridge
It's the weekend and Charles Bridge is 'rammed'.
Charles Bridge - Old Town Bridge Tower
Ice Pub Prague 😲
If you walk downstream of the Smetana Embankment you come across the Kranner Fountain built to commemorate the Hasberg Dynasty (built 1845-50)
Cafe Slavia is the place to be seen in Prague and one of the most prestigious cafes to dine in. So you can imagine my shock when a young waiter spilled a tray of food and drink over me. A cup of coffee smashed under our table soaking my boots. I remain calm and received a large discount 😇
On the piss in the Koslovna Beer restaurant
This Bohemian bar girl shows off her
impressive Polynesian tattoo👀
On the way from the Old Town to ''Jirho z Podebrad '
Metro Station enroute to Slavia Prague
After drinking away the afternoon,
we get a taxi to the Stadium
Fan Park at Slavia Prague
Now to find our gate
Outside the Main Stand
England's First Lady has made it
50 Kc a pint is taking the piss. That is
about £1.70 for a pint of Staropramen, this place is heaven.
England in the 'Fr. Planicka Stand' (South Stand)
The warm up and England's confidence is still high
The Main stand (JW Madden Stand) to the
left with the North Stand top of the picture
The game kicks off with a good pace to it.
The Czech's will be no mugs.
Czech fans in the North Stand
I had a few beers with this big West Country Boy, when
I was in Moscow before the Colombian game
It is hard being perfect😎
Decent start by both teams
Raheem Stirling's legs are taken away from him
after a lightening break down the wing. Penalty!
Harry Kane lines it up.
Can he do it?
Fuckin' right he can✊
Czech Republic 0 Harry Kane 1
Day 4 and after England's first defeat in 10 years in a qualifying game (44 games) we head out to do some tourism with heavy hearts and big hang overs.
Old Tower Bridge in the morning sun
Statue of the 'Holy Crucifix and Calvary' on Charles Bridge
Invasion of the East German 'Trabant' - 1989
Many 'Trabies' were abandoned in the area of 'Mala Strana' in Prague by East German refugees as they fled to the Czechoslovakian capital to visit the West German embassy. Approximately 1600 cars were dumped in the city in 1989, just two years before the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Steve Hesketh on the way to the Strahov Monastry
The library at the Strahov Monastery is impressive
No visit to a monastery is complete
without a pint of local brew
The Observation Tower poking through the trees
Queen Anne's Summer Palace, an extension to Prague Castle is the venue of the exhibition which commemorates 30 years since the fall of communism in Czechoslovakia
The exhibition tells the story of the fall of communism across the whole Eastern Bloc. The Czech's had the Velvet Revolution which was a non violent transition to power which occurred between Oct and Nov 1989.
Classy tattoos💓
The weir at sun set
Charles Bridge - last shot
Sue and Olga have gatecrashed
the 'Drunken Monkey pub crawl'
Head Barman at O'Che's Prague
Another Anglo-Russian friendship forms
Me and Big Andrey - having a last drink
What a lovely couple💕
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