Ladbrokes previews Czechia vs South Africa in Group A at the World Cup, with bet builder tips
Czechia tipped to claim all three points, with Patrik Schick getting on the scoresheet
Teboho Mokoena backed to test the keeper, while Vladimir Coufal collects a booking
Ladbrokes brings you an in-depth match preview for Czechia vs South Africa in Group A at the 2026 World Cup, including predictions, lineups and expert bet builder tips.
Both teams currently sit on zero points after opening-day defeats, so avoiding another loss here is absolutely vital if dreams of reaching the round of 32 are to materialise. In a battle of the underdogs, the stage is set for an unmissable clash as Group A really starts to take shape.
Below, we've put together the ultimate Czechia vs South Africa bet builder, with potential starting lineups, our score prediction, and the latest live betting markets - so read on!
Our predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Williams / Mudau, Okon, Mbokazi, Modiba / Mokoena, Adams / Appollis, Rayners, Moremi / Foster
Czechia vs South Africa: Bet builder tips
Patrik Schick to score anytime against South Africa
We're going to kick off our Czechia vs South Africa bet builder with a bang, backing Czechia centre-forward Patrik Schick to score his first-ever World Cup goal.
Arguably the standout name across both teams, Schick has just enjoyed another prolific season in Germany, where 22 goals saw him crowned Bayer Leverkusen's top scorer by some distance - and we're tipping him to showcase that goalscoring touch on Thursday. South Africa's defence looked far from convincing in their opener against Mexico, conceding 16 shots, and without the protection of the suspended Sphephelo Sithole in front of the backline, our experts think Patrik Schick could be given a fair few chances to open his World Cup account.
With underdogs South Africa not expected to have too much possession against Czechia, the majority of their chances are likely to arise from range - so we're tipping midfielder Teboho Mokoena to have at least one shot on target.
Two of South Africa's three shots against Mexico were from outside the box, so it's the midfielders who are primed to be trying their luck against Czechia, with fast breaks and strikes from distance seemingly their most likely route to goal. Mokoena was one of the South Africans who played the full 90 minutes last week, and his average of well over two shots per game in the South African Premiership - with more than 67% of those coming from outside the box - goes to show just how keen he is to try his luck when given the chance.
So with that in mind, we're backing Teboho Mokoena to have 1+ shots on target against Czechia, with the experienced midfielder looking to drive his team to an unlikely result.
Czechia's Vladimir Coufal to be shown a card
Switching our attention to the cards markets now, and we're tipping former Premier League full-back Vladimir Coufal to be shown a card against a determined South Africa, with the wing-back potentially being caught out of position once or twice.
Now plying his trade in the Bundesliga, Coufal had an excellent 2025/26 season at Hoffenheim, but the 33-year-old will certainly be susceptible to the fast counter-attacks of South Africa on Thursday afternoon, with his recovery pace not what it once was. Averaging just under a foul a game across the last season, the full-back is never too far from the referee's eye, and in a tournament where over 2.5 yellow cards are being dished out per game (on average), we're predicting another one here.
So Vladimir Coufal to be carded is the third pick of our Czechia vs South Africa bet builder, with the defender stamping his authority on this monumental match.
Czechia to beat South Africa in crucial Group A clash
Wrapping up our Czechia vs South Africa preview and predictions, Ladbrokes' experts are backing Czechia to get their first points on the board with a win, all but ending South Africa's hopes of reaching the knockouts.
Miroslav Koubek's Czechia were somewhat unfortunate to lose to South Korea in their opening game, surrendering their lead before conceding a late winner, and all the signs are pointing to an instant response here. South Africa didn't impress many people in their opener, losing two men to red cards and going out with a bit of a whimper, and without a win since December, we can't see them ending their barren run against Czechia.
You can bet on each of these markets individually, or combine them to create a Czechia vs South Africa Bet Builder. Plus, with Bet Builder+, you can combine your bet not only with other World Cup matches, but also with different sports.
Czechia vs South Africa takes place on Thursday, 18 June, with kick-off scheduled for 17:00 BST.
Where can I watch Czechia vs South Africa?
Czechia vs South Africa will be shown live on BBC and BBC iPlayer.
Can you bet on Czechia vs South Africa?
Ladbrokes are offering customers the chance to bet on a number of Czechia vs South Africa markets, including match result, both teams to score and goalscorers.
