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<\/p>\nThe towering frontman has seen his international exile continue despite a move to Glasgow’s East End<\/p>\n
17:37, 17 Mar 2026Updated 19:41, 17 Mar 2026<\/p>\n
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(Image: SNS Group)<\/p>\n
Czech Republic boss Miroslav Koubek has fired back at Celtic striker Tomas Cvancara <\/a>after the frontman claimed the international team was not his “priority.”<\/p>\n Cvancara, who signed on loan from Borussia Monchengladbach in January, has struggled to hold down a starting spot in Martin O’Neill’s starting line-up following his arrival. However, in recent weeks he has shown flashes of his best.<\/p>\n The hitman came off the bench to send the Hoops through to next month’s semi-final at Hampden by slotting home the decisive penalty from a nervy shootout against Rangers. He followed that up with a crucial spot-kick in the 3-1 win over Motherwell last weekend.<\/p>\n His form for Celtic<\/a> had been expected to earn a recall for the Czech side for the World Cup<\/a> play-off showdown with Ireland later this month. But Koubek snubbed the towering frontman.<\/p>\n Asked why the striker was denied a recall, he said: “We considered what awaits us and what mentality is suitable for this game. Cvancara expressed himself that the national team is not a priority for him.<\/p>\n \u201cAs a coach, I say that it is not a priority for me to take a player for whom the national team is not a priority.\u201d<\/p>\n It appears that the gaffer has been irked by comments following his move to Glasgow’s East End.<\/p>\n Celtic’s Tomas Cvancara celebrates scoring a penalty to make it 2-1(Image: SNS Group)<\/p>\n When asked about the prospect of playing for his country once again, he said: \u201cIt would be an honour, but to be honest, it\u2019s not my goal for the future.<\/p>\n \u201cI would say I want to focus more on the club.”<\/p>\n Team manager Pavel Nedved attempted to cool tensions when asked about players being snubbed – with former Rangers man Vaclav Cerny, who is regularly playing for Besiktas,<\/a> also missing out.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cThey are not bad players in terms of character.<\/p>\n \u201cWe considered the players for the line-up that we have in mind for the play-offs. We have the right squad.\u201d<\/p>\n Get more Daily Record exclusives by signing up for free to Google\u2019s preferred sources . Click HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\n Tune in to Hotline Live<\/a> every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football and listen to Record Sport’s newest podcast, Game On<\/a>, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks.<\/p>\n Follow Record Sport on Twitter<\/a>, Facebook<\/a> and Instagram<\/a> for all of the up-to-the minute breaking news, video and audio on the SPFL, the Scotland national team and beyond.<\/p>\n You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers<\/a> and Celtic<\/a> pages, and sign up to our newsletters<\/a> to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season.<\/p>\n We’re also on WhatsApp where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to you phone. Join our Rangers community here<\/a> and our Celtic community here<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Celtic's](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1773791769_894_0_Celtic-v-Motherwell-William-Hill-Premiership.jpg\")
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