Exclusive: Franny Černá on growing up in the USA, representing Czechia and how mainstream media treat women’s football

After a long break, QB Originals is back with a new episode. This time, our guest is Franny Černá, a Europa Cup semi-finalist, Sparta Prague player and Czech international. However, she was born in the USA, where she experienced a very different approach to women’s football compared to Europe.

In the new episode, we talk to Franny about what it was like growing up in the USA (did you know she also did ballet alongside football?), her move to Czechia, and what she dislikes about the way mainstream media frame women’s football.

Last season, Sparta Prague made it all the way to the UEFA Women's Europa Cup semi-finals, and they did so in dramatic fashion. After losing at home to YB Frauen, they managed to turn the tie around, winning 4:3 on aggregate to advance. In the same season, Franny also won both the domestic league title and cup with Sparta.

Yet despite successes like these, women’s football in Czechia is still developing at a different pace compared to some of Europe’s biggest markets. While the game continues to grow rapidly in countries such as England, Germany and Spain, progress has been slower elsewhere – particularly in a country whose women’s national team has never qualified for a major tournament.

Having grown up in the USA, Franny has experienced a very different football culture first-hand. There, the women’s game has traditionally stood much less in the shadow of men’s football.