Losing to Spain is understandable, but England’s defeat at Wembley on Saturday raised the stakes considerably for this trip to the Czech Republic—a venue where the Three Lions have historically struggled, most notably in a 2-1 Euro 2020 qualifying loss in 2019.
The match began with a degree of tension. Thomas Tuchel shuffled his pack, surprisingly leaving Jude Bellingham on the bench. Against a Czech side embarking on a new era under Spaniard Santi Denia following a disappointing World Cup campaign, England looked uneasy early on, and the hosts dared to dream of another upset.
The complexion of the game shifted in the 23rd minute. A rash, high challenge by Pavel Sulc on Elliot Anderson initially drew only a yellow card from referee Umut Meler. However, the Video Assistant Referee intervened, and upon reviewing the pitchside monitor, Meler upgraded the sanction to a red card. The dismissal disfigured the contest, but Tuchel had no complaints; his side capitalised ruthlessly to launch their Nations League campaign, with the standout moment provided by the manager’s headline selection.
Trent Alexander-Arnold returned to the fold at right-back for just his second appearance under Tuchel. It was the Real Madrid defender who broke the deadlock early in the second half, delivering a pinpoint whipped cross that Anthony Gordon headed home with precision.
Harry Kane added a second with his 87th international goal, and—after intense scrutiny regarding defensive frailties—Tuchel secured a first clean sheet in seven matches, a span during which the team had conceded 13 times. The start was shaky; the finish was a stroll.
Alexander-Arnold’s inclusion was the wildcard. His presence adds nuance to any side, and his selection meant Marc Guéhi was the sole survivor from the back four that faced Spain. With Ezri Konsa and Nico O’Reilly nursing minor injuries, Trevoh Chalobah and Lewis Hall formed an entirely untested defensive unit alongside Guéhi.
England lacked cohesion initially. Sloppy passing and loose touches invited pressure, and Anderson was fortunate to escape punishment early on when a misjudged header allowed Sulc a sight of goal, only for Chalobah to recover superbly.
The red card transformed the occasion. Until that point, Czechia had been the better side. England had threatened on 16 minutes when Gordon fed Morgan Rogers, whose shot was blocked, while Lukas Cerv volleyed narrowly wide for the hosts. Sulc later chose poorly when well-placed, crowded out by Guéhi and Chalobah.
Sulc’s challenge on Anderson was late and high. In real-time, the yellow card seemed adequate—Sulc overstretched genuinely for the ball without malice or excessive force, and England’s players did not surround the referee demanding red. Yet the slow-motion replay revealed the danger, ticking the boxes for serious foul play, and Meler duly brandished the red.
Czechia’s attacking ambition evaporated instantly. England monopolised possession but struggled to create clear-cut chances before the break, save for Kane forcing a save from Matej Kovar in first-half stoppage time after a sharp interchange with Myles Lewis-Skelly. Tuchel ended the half in a furious exchange with the fourth official over a decision involving Bukayo Saka.
The manager reset at the interval, introducing Eberechi Eze for the booked Lewis-Skelly—who had escaped a red for a lunging challenge on Cerv—and switching to a 4-1-4-1 formation. Tuchel could not risk Lewis-Skelly given the heightened tension.
The breakthrough arrived almost immediately, and it was a moment for the Alexander-Arnold admirers. After Czechia coughed up possession cheaply, the right-back chased down the ball, turned, and delivered a trademark low, drilled cross that bounced perfectly for Gordon to head home. It was a deserved reward for Gordon, whose pace and urgency had made him England’s most dangerous outlet.
Hall began to surge forward with increasing confidence, shooting narrowly wide and watching Ladislav Krejci turn a low cross against his own post. The opener settled England, and Kane’s goal felt inevitable. The captain duly drilled a loose ball into the far corner after Rogers burst into the box.
There was still time for debuts: Alex Scott and Rio Ngumoha both impressed off the bench. England might have added further gloss had Kovar not produced a fine save to deny Eze.
Next up for the Three Lions is a trip to Croatia on Saturday.
