Patrik Schick confirms retirement from Czech national team

Patrik Schick, the Bayer Leverkusen striker and top scorer for the Czech Republic, maintains his decision to retire from international football. Speaking in a podcast, Schick expressed frustration with the national team's culture, stating that players often used the national team to devalue themselves rather than as a reward for their club performances.

Schick attributed the team's failure at the recent World Cup to a lack of professionalism and poor preparation, noting that the squad approached the tournament with a lax attitude. He also cited exhaustion from long-distance travel as a significant factor in their performance.

Despite interest from the new Czech national team coach, Santi Denia, Schick indicated that a meeting would not change his mind. He noted that while there had been indirect communication regarding a potential meeting through a club fitness coach, no direct contact has occurred and his decision remains final.