Spain dominates Czech Republic in IFAF U19 European Championship qualifier
The Spain U19 National Team secured a decisive 43-14 victory over the Czech Republic in the IFAF 2026 U19 European Championship qualifier game held in Prague. This win marked Spain’s first victory of the tournament, improving their record to 1-1, while the Czech Republic fell to 0-1.
Strong start for Spain
Spain wasted no time establishing their dominance. On their opening drive, quarterback Juan Baró, stepping in after an injury to Rodrigo Loscertales, led the team down the field with precision. They reached the red zone and capped off the drive with a field goal from Héctor Gómez, taking an early 3-0 lead. However, the Czech Republic quickly responded with a spectacular kickoff return by Matěj Toman, who evaded multiple tackles to score a touchdown, putting the home team ahead 7-3.
Spain regains control
The Czech Republic‘s lead was short-lived. Baró connected with Pablo Gaitán for a 40-yard touchdown pass, regaining the lead for Spain at 9-7 after a missed extra point. The Spanish offense continued to roll, with Baró throwing another touchdown pass, this time to Adrián Bermúdez, extending their lead to 16-7.
Spain’s offensive onslaught continued as Iván Escudero caught a short pass from Baró and sprinted into the end zone, making it 22-7. Just before halftime, Baró found Gaitán again for his fourth touchdown pass, leaving the score at 29-7 as the teams headed to the locker room.
Czech Republic fights back
The second half began with the Czech Republic showing signs of life. They marched down the field, and running back Šimon Krahula punched it in from one yard out, narrowing the gap to 29-14. The Czech defense finally found a way to stop Spain, with Marek Fišer and Miroslav Habrnál combining for a sack on third down.
However, Spain quickly regained control. Baró threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Pablo Sánchez, extending the lead to 36-14. The Czech Republic struggled to respond, failing to convert on a crucial fourth down, allowing Spain to capitalize once again. Iván Gómez scored another touchdown, sealing the game at 43-14.
Looking ahead
After the match, Spain’s head coach, Óscar Calatayud, praised his team’s ability to bounce back from their previous loss to Austria. He highlighted their improved performance in pressure situations and the effectiveness of their defense. The Czech Republic will look to regroup as they prepare for their next matchup against Austria in September, hoping to turn their fortunes around in the tournament.
