Projekt Kořeny
There were many football fans in Czechoslovakian film environment, and football brought great possibilities of using images. However, films of the first-republic period (1918 - 1934) were usually sub-standard, with exception of Karel Poláček's "Men Offside" with a unique actor Hugo Haas. Films about football were made after 1945 too, of which the most significant is probably Karel Smyczek's picture "Why?" (Proč?, 1987) that deals with problems of violence connected to football.
Football has its position in both world and Czech fine arts. Among the world painters, we should point out Pablo Picasso or Salvador Dali. The most important Czech illustrators were probably Josef Čapek and Antonín Pelc. Zdeněk Němeček excelled as a sculptor with his statue "Goalkeeper" made for the 1968 Olympics in Mexiko.
In Czech literature, football is, or the most part, the theme of humorous books. Works by Vladislav Vančura, Eduard Bass, Karel Poláček or Ota Pavel are pearls of football prose. Writers were, on the one hand, fascinated by football environment, on the other hand used it as a space for social metaphor. Many others Czech authors, who didn't write about it themselves, were also charmed by this exciting game, for example Bohumil Hrabal.
Football is not a theme for prose and film only. It appears in verses by Czech poets (Hiral, Batný, Kolář) and is found in other forms of art. The famoust composer Bohuslav Martinu wrote a symphony "Half Time", there was also a football ballet in the 1960s. The culture-eager publiccould see football on theatre stage, for example in a popular play "Goalkeepers' Loneliness" which Pavel Zedníček excelled in.
Women were at first dominated by men, but this has changed since the 1950s. Women are becoming more and more active, both as players and referees. Women football is most popular in Germany, Schweden, and above all in the United States of Anerica. It has also been included in the list of Olympic events. Compared with this, Czech women football is much less developed. The leaders are Praque clubs Sparta and Slavia, which also supply players for the national team. Some Czech women footballers (e. g Pavlína časná) managed to break through abroad, but this occurs just exceptionally.
Czech football is based upon mass interest - from the first and second league, across the Bohemian and the Moravian league, to divisions and lesser classed. Moreover, there are countless elevens in towns and villages, and also small-football players. In the Czech Republic, football is a sport played most widely and at all levels. This base is essential for professional sport, and it is also the most pleasing aspect if this game. People who play it as their hobby willingly put effort and time into work with the youth. Thus they create important links between individuals and community. At this level football transcends the limits of sport and becomes a real social phenomenon. A reason for meeting, competition and, above all, fair play.
At the beginning, the function of football coach wasn't established and their work was usually carried out by older players or football association captains. Later the coach became an integral part of football team and, after 1945, their role was included into the system of education too. Czechoslovakian and Czech coaches also contributed to world football, mostly in developing countries (Africa, Asia and others lands).
The successes of the Czech football have always been connected with great goalie personalities. In the period until 1938, it was Fratisek Planicka. The "national goal" was usually kept by goalies of Sparta or Slavia. Between 1945 and 1989, the national team had 37 goalkeepers, among whom excelled Stacho, Schrojf, Voktor, and Miklosko. After 1990, there were Kouba and Srnicek. Planicka, Schrojf and Viktor were recognized also among the world elite players.
Lucie Kunstová, Martina Podběhlá