Czech Republic's Koubek says better team won after opening defeat by South Korea

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/south-korea/K6Gs7P6G/"]South Korea[/a] rallied from a goal down to ‌[a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/czech-republic-6LHwBDGU/south-korea-K6Gs7P6G/?mid=CGdvIm6K"]defeat the Czechs 2-1[/a] in Group A, dealing Koubek's men ‌their first loss after a string of six unbeaten matches.[/p][p][b]"We ‌really made some mistakes but also made opportunities. Our opponent was very fast,"[/b] Koubek told reporters. [b]"The better team won.[/b][/p][p][b]"We had to ‌fight and we did,"[/b] he added. [b]"Now we ⁠need to move on. We ‌need to be more attacking and creative in the last 30 ​metres. In the attack we have room for improvement."[/b][/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/krejci-ladislav/nZ8SVvvE/"]Ladislav Krejci[/a] put the Czechs ahead with a ​fine header as they dominated in the air but [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hwang-in-beom/6Jo7zpif/"]Hwang In-beom[/a] soon equalised and then turned provider for substitute [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/oh-hyun-gyu/xrhecmZN/"]⁠Oh Hyeon-gyu[/a]’s winner.[/p][embed guid="26b490a2-f083-4ec5-af6b-dab282d473a7" url="https://x.com/FIFAWorldCup/status/2065303620778705247" social-type="twitter" /][p]Koubek also ​said the Czechs needed to see more from key players like striker [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/schick-patrik/WzQQSSfc/"]Patrik Schick[/a] and attacking midfielder [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sulc-pavel/dYaeeH8k/"]Pavel Sulc[/a] both of whom he substituted in the second half after the ‌two appeared exhausted in the warm temperature.[/p][p]The Czechs next meet [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/south-africa/W2ijYvlr/"]South Africa[/a] on June 18.[/p][p][b]"We will face a difficult opponent and we have just faced a difficult opponent,"[/b] Koubek said. [b]"It was our obligation to play until the end so it's clear the players are exhausted."[/b][/p][p]Despite a first defeat for the 74-year-old since taking the job, Koubek found positives, especially the performance in midfield of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sojka-alexandr/tp6VY6vA/"]Alexandr Sojka[/a] who ‌won his first competitive cap.[/p][p]He also shrugged off the ​travelling in store for the Czechs who go to ‌Atlanta next week to take on the South Africans while co-hosts and Group A leaders [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/mexico/O6iHcNkd/"]Mexico[/a] face South Korea.[/p][p][b]"We just have to live with it because that is what others planned for us,"[/b] said Koubek. [b]"Our logistics ⁠team is good but ⁠it is not ideal ‌we have to travel that much."[/b][/p][infobox id="4ccc1b10-d68f-4c97-bcf4-5e613c17c2e3" /]