England meet Czechia at Wembley on Tuesday night in the fourth matchday of UEFA Nations League Group A3, with Thomas Tuchel’s side chasing a response in the battle for top spot and the visitors fighting to avoid relegation to League B. Kick-off is at 20:45, at the end of the international window.
What the night decided
England have little room for further dropped points after their 3-2 opening defeat to Spain at Wembley, a match in which Spain came from behind. Their immediate task is to impose the same authority they showed three days earlier, when they swept Croatia aside 7-0.
The contrast between the two teams across their first three Nations League matches has been stark. England have attempted four times as many shots per game as Czechia, scored an average of three goals and faced seven fewer attempts at their own goal in each match.
For Czechia, the situation is more pressing. They have lost all three group games, against Croatia, England and Spain, and although the margins have been narrow, Santi Denia’s team have lacked a decisive edge in front of goal. Points at Wembley would keep alive their hopes of remaining in League A.
Bellingham and Kane lead England again
Tuchel has kept faith with Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane despite the limited recovery time following the Croatia win. Jordan Pickford, Marc Guéhi, Lewis Hall and Elliot Anderson also retain their places.
Jarell Quansah, used at full-back against Croatia, moves into the central defensive unit, while Trent Alexander-Arnold returns on the flank.
Bellingham arrives as England’s central attacking figure after an exceptional display against Croatia, where he provided three assists and scored once. His influence has driven England’s forward play and lifted those around him.
Czechia rest Hlozek
Czechia begin without Adam Hlozek, despite the Hoffenheim forward being their most influential player during the international break. He has supplied the assists for both of his country’s goals, but Denia has chosen to leave him out of the starting side.
Only Sláma, Král, Ambros and Lingr remain from the Czechia XI that faced Spain. The visitors must find greater attacking threat without Hlozek from the outset as they return to Wembley against an England side in confident mood.
The return or the next round
England will revisit their contest with Spain in November, when first place in Group A3 remains the principal target. Before then, Wembley offers Tuchel’s team the chance to reinforce their position after the early setback against the Spaniards, while Czechia need the night to produce the points that could alter their relegation fight.
