England got their UEFA Nations League campaign back on track with a 2-0 victory over Czechia in Prague, as second-half goals from Anthony Gordon and Harry Kane gave Thomas Tuchel’s side their first points of the competition.
The Three Lions arrived at the Fortuna Arena looking to respond to Saturday’s 3-2 defeat by Spain, while Czechia were also seeking their first points after losing 2-1 to Croatia.
England made the brighter start and came close to opening the scoring when Morgan Rogers struck the post, before Harry Kane also tested Matej Kovář. The hosts’ task became even harder in the 25th minute when Pavel Šulc was sent off following a VAR review of his high challenge on Elliot Anderson.
Despite their numerical advantage, England found Czechia difficult to break down before the interval. However, the visitors needed only two minutes of the second half to make the extra man count.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, making his first England start since October 2024, delivered an excellent cross from the right and Gordon guided his header into the far corner. It was Gordon’s third goal in as many appearances for England and another positive contribution after his performance against Spain.
Lewis Hall also impressed on his return to the starting line-up, building a promising partnership with Gordon on the left. His cross was later turned onto the post by Czech captain Ladislav Krejčí as England continued to create openings.
The visitors eventually doubled their advantage in the 69th minute when Kane finished with his left foot after Czechia failed to clear their lines. The goal was Kane’s 87th for England in his 123rd international appearance.
Tuchel was pleased with the way his side improved after the break, particularly after a more difficult opening 45 minutes.
“In the second half we stepped up,” Tuchel said. “We needed to be a bit more dynamic and be a bit more urgent in our play, which we did, but we kept the intensity going and we were very professional and the effort was still there, so it was a deserved victory.”
For Czechia boss Santi Denia, Šulc’s dismissal proved a major turning point in a game that was already difficult against one of Europe’s strongest sides. The defeat was a setback for the hosts, but Denia praised his players’ effort and stressed the importance of testing themselves against high-level opposition.
The match also marked a memorable night for Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott, who came on in the 70th minute to make his senior England debut. He became the 1,301st player to represent the men’s senior national team.
“I’m really happy,” Scott said. “It’s something you dream of as a kid and when you are young you don’t ever think it is going to be a reality. A lot of hard work has gone into that and I’m grateful for the opportunity.”
The victory gives England three points from their opening two Group A3 matches and provides a response to the defeat by Spain. Tuchel’s side will now travel to Rijeka to face Croatia on Saturday.
