England vs Czechia: Eight Players Out and Nine Goals In as Tuchel's Side Roll Into Wembley

by Geoffrey Ejiga | by Cydias Aujard

image England vs Czechia: Eight Players Out and Nine Goals In as Tuchel's Side Roll Into Wembley
Three days after their 7-0 demolition of Croatia in Rijeka, England return to Wembley for a Nations League fixture they should control. Thomas Tuchel has lost eight players from his original squad through injury this window, with Alex Scott, Ezri Konsa and Nico O'Reilly the latest withdrawals. Rico Lewis was called up from the Under-21s as cover. Czechia, meanwhile, arrive in London with zero points from three matches after defeats to Croatia, England and Spain. Tonight, Národní tým’ desperation meets a Three Lions’ side that feel like kings of Group C (A3).
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Saturday's Seven-Goal Statement

England's 7-0 win over Croatia in the Nations League on Saturday in Rijeka was the most dominant display of Thomas Tuchel's time in charge:

  • Harry Kane fired in the opener on eight minutes before Jude Bellingham doubled the lead on 21,

  • Anthony Gordon headed in a third on 39 minutes and Bukayo Saka struck on the stroke of half-time,

  • Kane and Saka added second-half goals of their own, and

  • Morgan Rogers sealed the rout in the 87th minute.

And on that busy night, Croatia managed only one shot on target, which should say something good about Tuchel’s defensive solidity. For context, England have conceded the fewest goals (3) in Group C, even fewer than leaders Spain.

For England, that result followed a 2-0 win over Czechia in Prague on Matchday 2, where Gordon headed in after the interval and Kane finished from close range. And the Three Lions have now managed two clean sheets in succession to end a run of six matches in which England conceded 13 goals.

Tunchel’s men sit second in Group C on six points, three behind Spain and six ahead of last-placed Czechia. A win tonight would lift England to nine points with two matchdays remaining.

England’s Dilemma: Shorter Squad, Bigger Goals

Tuchel's original 27-man selection has been reduced to 22 through a string of withdrawals. Declan Rice, Cole Palmer, Marcus Rashford, Kobbie Mainoo and Tino Livramento all departed before the Spain match on September 26.

James Garner and Morgan Gibbs-White were drafted in as replacements, but the exits continued. Nico O'Reilly, whose misplaced pass set up Spain's equaliser at Wembley on the opening day, has also withdrawn.

But the real blows came as Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott pulled out with a serious quadriceps injury, while Arsenal's Ezri Konsa left the camp with a calf problem.

However, some reinforcements arrived as Manchester City's Rico Lewis received a late call-up from the Under-21 squad to provide defensive cover. And Jordan Pickford, restored to the starting lineup for the Croatia match after James Trafford kept goal in the first two fixtures, is expected to start again.

Even better, Kane, who has scored in each of the last three matches, leads the line tonight. Saka, Gordon, Eberechi Eze and Rogers are all competing for places in the attack. Meanwhile, Elliot Anderson and Myles Lewis-Skelly are set to start in central midfield.

Czechia Arrive Without Their Captain or a Point

All three of Santi Denia's competitive matches as Czechia manager have ended in defeat:

  • Croatia beat his side 2-1 on the opening day.

  • England won 2-0 in Prague after Sulc was sent off for a studs-up challenge on Anderson.

  • Then on Saturday in Spain, Lamine Yamal and Rodri scored inside the first 35 minutes before Jiri Slama pulled one back on 69.

But Mikel Merino's late strike sealed a 3-1 win for the hosts, and Krejci's dismissal for two bookable offences in the 84th minute means the captain misses tonight's match.

In positive news, Sulc, who missed the Spain game while serving his one-match suspension from the Prague red card, returns to the squad. Although Tomas Soucek remains injured, while Lukas Provod and Tomas Chory are both unavailable. Still, at the helm of their attack is Hoffenheim striker Adam Hlozek.

However, a rock-solid England team with the fewest goals conceded, might not worry much about a Czechia side with the fewest goals scored.

In all fairness, the wave of retirements that followed the World Cup, where Czechia were eliminated in the group stage with one point from three matches, continues to limit Denia's options.

Patrik Schick, Vladimir Darida, Tomas Holes, Vaclav Cerny and Jaroslav Zeleny have all stepped down from international football..