Prague’s Fortuna Arena provided England with the response it needed after the Wembley defeat by Spain, as Anthony Gordon carried his Barcelona form into another international night and helped Thomas Tuchel’s side secure a 2-0 Nations League victory over the Czech Republic.
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Gordon, who had scored in England’s 3-2 loss to Spain on Saturday, again became the visitors’ most dangerous attacker. His headed goal early in the second half opened the scoring, while captain Harry Kane added a late second to give England their first points in Nations League group A3.
The Barcelona winger now has six England goals. Three have come in his last three appearances, following strikes in the World Cup semi-final against Argentina and against Spain at Wembley.
Tuchel altered four players from the Spain match. Trevoh Chalobah replaced the injured Ezri Konsa, while Lewis Hall came in for the affected O’Reilly. Morgan Rogers started instead of Jude Bellingham, and Trent Alexander-Arnold replaced Jarell Quansah.
For Alexander-Arnold, it was a first England appearance since June 2025, when he played against Andorra at the RCDE Stadium. He had not been selected for the World Cup but returned to provide the decisive delivery for Gordon in Prague.
The Czech side, coached by Spaniard Santi Denia, began with energy and troubled England through turnovers and quick breaks. They matched the World Cup third-place finishers for much of the opening phase, despite operating from a compact defensive shape.
Gordon began to impose himself after around 15 minutes. His through ball allowed Rogers to strike the post, before Elliott Anderson and Bukayo Saka saw attempts blocked in the same passage. Gordon then bent another effort narrowly beyond the far upright.
The balance of the contest changed in the 25th minute. Pavel Sulc was dismissed after a heavy challenge from behind on Anderson, with referee Umut Meler consulting VAR before producing a straight red card. Down to 10 men, the hosts retreated further but continued to make England work for openings.
Denia appealed for a red card when Myles Lewis-Skelly challenged Lukas Cerv for a loose ball, but the England player received only a yellow. Kane then nearly broke the deadlock before half-time, turning near the edge of the box and forcing Matej Kovar into an excellent save.
A breakthrough after the interval
England finally found their route through two minutes after the restart. Cerv lost possession and Alexander-Arnold sent a cross in from the right, where Gordon had found space in the area to guide a header inside the post.
With the advantage established, England controlled possession for long stretches. Ladislav Krejci, formerly of Girona, inadvertently sent a Lewis Hall cross onto his own post before Kane settled the result in the 69th minute, driving a loose ball across Kovar and into the net.
The goal was Kane’s 87th for England. Kovar prevented the margin becoming heavier with saves from Eberechi Eze and Bellingham after both entered from the bench, but the away side left Prague with a composed and important first win in the group.
