Michal Bilek resigns as Czech Republic coach

Michal Bilek is pictured during the FIFA World Cup Qualifying group match Italy vs. Czech Republic on September 10, 2013 at Juventus Stadium in Turin. (Getty Images)

Prague, Sep 11 (IANS): Czech Republic national football team coach Michal Bilek resigned after his team lost to Italy 1-2 in a qualifier and practically lost the chance to advance to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Bilek offered his resignation to Czech Football Association chairman Miroslav Pelta after the loss Tuesday, and the resignation was accepted, reports Xinhua.

“We wished to play the World Cup but it will not happen. I’m very disappointed that the qualification ends for us and that I end here,” said Bilek.

The team will probably be led by one of the present assistant coaches, Josef Pesice or Tomas Galasek, in the remaining two matches. Pelta said it would take more time to find a replacement for Bilek.

Bilek, 48, had coached the Czech national team from late 2009. He succeeded in qualifying for the European championship and then advancing to the quarter-final in 2012.

The Czech team has no chance to advance from Group B two rounds before the end of the world cup qualification.