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Attendance: 18,651
Czech Republic national football team
Euro Champ Qualifying | Group Stage
Oct 11, 2019 at 7.45pm UK
 
England national football team

2-1

Brabec (9'), Ondrasek (85')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Kane (5' pen.)

Live Commentary: Czech Republic 2-1 England - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's live commentary of the Euro 2020 qualification match between Czech Republic and England from Prague, which finished 2-1.
2

England missed the chance to book their spot in the finals of Euro 2020 with three matches to spare as they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Czech Republic in Friday night's Group A clash in Prague.

Harry Kane had sent the Three Lions into an early lead on the night, but the home side turned it around courtesy of goals from Jakub Brabec and Zdenek Ondrasek.

Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.


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Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Euro 2020 qualification match between Czech Republic and England from Prague. England will enter tonight's match knowing that a win would see them book their spot in the finals of Euro 2020 with three matches to spare. It should be a very interesting game - stay tuned for all of the action!

TEAMS!

CZECH REPUBLIC: Vaclik; Coufal, Celustka, Brabec, Boril; Kral, Soucek; Jankto, Darida, Masopust; Schick

ENGLAND: Pickford; Trippier, Keane, Maguire, Rose; Henderson, Rice, Mount; Sterling, Kane, Sancho


Czech Republic boss Jaroslav Silhavy was unable to select either Pavel Kaderabek or Tomas Kalas for the clash with England, but forward Patrik Schick is available despite a slight injury concern. The attacker has netted four times in his last four appearances for his country and leads the line with support from captain Vladimir Darida. Sevilla's Tomas Vaclik starts between the sticks, while Tomas Soucek and Alex Kral feature in the middle of the park - looks to be a 4-2-3-1 formation for the home side.

As for England, Gareth Southgate has shuffled his pack from the clash with Kosovo last time out. Kieran Trippier and Danny Rose come into the full-back areas, while Mason Mount is given the nod alongside Declan Rice and Jordan Henderson in midfield. Jadon Sancho's double against Kosovo has proved enough for the Borussia Dortmund attacker to keep his spot in the final third, meanwhile, and he is chosen ahead of Marcus Rashford.

Gareth Southgate's side have collected 12 points from their four Group A matches thus far, while Czech Republic are second in the section with nine points having also played a game more than their opponents here. Kickoff in Prague is now just around the corner!

KICKOFF:  The home side kick things off tonight...

... not quite a full house inside the stadium, but there is a good atmosphere. The hosts have an early shout for a penalty as Schick goes down inside the box, but there was never really a strong enough call. England respond with a little period of possession.

Czech Republic again look to quicken the pace as Darida pops a pass into Schick, but Maguire is quickly on the scene to make the challenge and England can break forward.

PENALTY!  England have a penalty as Sterling is chopped to the ground by Masopust!

As clear as day - Masopust simply took Sterling's legs away from him there.

GOAL!  CZECH REPUBLIC 0-1 ENGLAND (KANE, PEN)

GOAL!  Absolutely no mistake from Kane as the England captain goes straight down the middle. It is just the start that the home side would not have wanted against the group leaders.

Just a reminder that a win for England would see them qualify for the finals of Euro 2020 with three matches to spare, which would be huge. This game is far from over, though, and the home side have been on the attack since the first goal went in here.

SAVE!  Really smart save from Pickford to keep out a powerful shot from Coufal!

GOAL!  CZECH REPUBLIC 1-1 ENGLAND (BRABEC)

GOAL!  Czech Republic level the scores in the ninth minute as Brabec knees the ball home from close range after fellow centre-back Celustka had made first contact from a corner.

YELLOW CARD!  Rose (England) is booked for a foul on Masopust.

Well, it has been a very lively start to this match with both teams already scoring and having other chances. Both defences look suspect at the moment it must be said.

England play a quick free kick in a dangerous position as Sancho looks to find Sterling, but the City attacker does not read the pass. Still 1-1 with 14 minutes on the clock here.

England are in a game tonight there is absolutely no question about that. The home side are on the front foot at the moment as they move the ball from left to right before looking to cross right into the middle of the box. England are really not too sure at the back here.

CHANCE!  Another chance for the home side from a corner but Schick heads wide following a scramble inside the box. Czech Republic probably should be ahead here.

Possession football for the home side at the moment as they continue to pass and probe. There is a shout for a free kick outside the box when Rose goes to challenge Darida but the referee is happy for the play to continue. It is a really, really open game here.

England are not really getting hold of the ball at the moment with the home side picking pass after pass in midfield. Czech Republic are the better side with 21 minutes on the clock.

Sterling has been a threat for England when they have been able to release him, but the home side are the team on the front foot as the first period continues to gather pace.

England's Raheem Sterling in action with Czech Republic's Lukas Masopust in their Euro 2020 qualifier on October 11, 2019© Reuters


SAVE!  Comfortable save for Pickford to keep out a low strike from Boril.

Kane sent England into an early lead in Prague before Brabec managed to level the scores, which sparked huge celebrations from the home side's players, as expected.

Czech Republic's Jakub Brabec celebrates scoring against England in their Euro 2020 qualifier on October 11, 2019© Reuters


We have not seen too much from Mount in the first 29 minutes of this match, while Sancho has also been quiet for England. Czech Republic did not let their heads drop after conceding in the early stages and have been much the better side here.

Just a few signs that England are getting to grips with the possession in the last few minutes, although they are not really threatening to score a second goal.

SAVE!  Comfortable save from Pickford to keep out a flicked header from Schick, who has been dangerous in the final third of the field. Still 1-1 with 33 minutes on the clock.

Half-chance for England as Kane takes a swing inside the Czech Republic box and it falls for Mount, but the Chelsea midfielder cannot make proper contact on the turn.

Trippier makes ground down the right and looks to deliver a low cross into Kane, but Boril is across to make the clearance. Czech Republic are defending well at the moment.

Little over five minutes of the first period remaining, and it must be said that the first 39 minutes of this match have flown past. England came flying out of the blocks and took the lead through Kane, but the home side have been the better side since the leveller went in.

Not too much happening in terms of attacking invention at the moment with England keeping the ball but not threatening to score a second. We have seen little from Sancho and Mount in the first half while Sterling and Kane have been quiet since the very early stages here.

Masopust fires across the goal at the end of another break from the home side, who are causing all sorts of problems when they manage to win the ball high up the field.

Just a reminder that England have to win tonight if they are to qualify for the finals of Euro 2020 with three games to spare. At the moment, Czech Republic look the team more likely to win it, but the likes of Sterling and Kane can change this game in an instant.

Maguire does well to clear ahead of Schick as the home side threaten inside the England box once again. The resulting corner is then dealt with as England survive.

Sancho does really well to collect a pass from Henderson before looking to deliver low into the home side's box, but Coufal is across to make a smart block.

HALF TIME:  CZECH REPUBLIC 1-1 ENGLAND

So there we have it - the referee brings the first period to a close with the two teams level at 1-1. England took the lead in the fifth minute when Kane scored from the penalty spot, but the home side levelled four minutes later through central defender Brabec.

STATISTICS! It is an even split in terms of possession thus far with both teams enjoying 50% of the ball. The home side had eight shots to England's four, though, and four of those were on target. There have also been two bookings in the opening 45 minutes with Jankto carded for Czech Republic and Rose picking up a yellow for Southgate's side.

BENCH WATCH! Southgate is not exactly short of attacking options on his bench with the likes of Abraham, Barkley and Rashford capable of making a difference, while Winks could be an option for the middle of the park. The home side, meanwhile, could look to Krejci, Kalvach and Zmrhal to potentially make a difference in the second 45 minutes here.

KICKOFF:  England resume the action in Prague...

... no changes from either manager at the break, which is not much of a surprise. However, you suspect that both will have alterations in mind as the second period develops.

SHOT!  Darida misses the target with a strike from outside the box.

It is difficult to see Tammy Abraham coming on tonight as Kane is unlikely to be replaced, but it would not be a surprise to see Rashford in the second half. Sancho has just led a break for the away side, but once again the home side manage to defend their lines.

Not too much to report in terms of attacking football in the last couple of minutes with both teams guilty of losing possession in the final third of the field. It remains 1-1 in Prague.

SHOT!  Soucek fires over the England crossbar after another bright move.

England have the chance to threaten with a free kick which Mount delivers into the penalty box, but Czech Republic manage to deal with the danger once again as Maguire heads wide. You do get the feeling that there is at least one more goal in this game.

Mount finds Henderson with a clever pass and the Liverpool midfielder heads down towards Sancho, only for Brabec, who has been impressive tonight, to clear his lines.

Little over 30 minutes of the second period remaining, and the match is very, very delicately poised at the moment. We are just entering the stage of the game where both managers will be thinking about alterations. There is surely at least one more goal in this.

CHANCE!  Huge chance for England as Kane finds Sterling with a clever pass, but Vaclik does really well to just make contact as the City attacker looked to round the goalkeeper!

SAVE!  Smart save from Pickford to keep out a curling strike from Masopust, who has been impressive for the home side since conceding a penalty early on.

Possession football for England at the moment but the visitors are not really going anywhere with it. The likes of Rose and Trippier have been sloppy with the ball tonight.

Kane releases Sancho with a terrific pass and the attacker looks to steady himself inside the away side's box, but again it is excellent defending from Brabec.

Sterling delivers a dangerous pass into Kane this time but the captain cannot make proper contact and it is an easy claim for Vaclik. Half-chances continue to arrive.

CZECH REPUBLIC SUB! Schick is replaced by Ondrasek for the home side.

YELLOW CARD!  Sterling (England) picks up a booking for England for dissent. The City attacker had out-muscled Coufal and worked his way into the home side's box, but the whistle was blown. Sancho did not hear it either and actually looked to score before the play was brought back.

Little over 20 minutes of the second period remaining, and there have been more positive signs for England in the last few minutes as they search for a second.

There is a little bit of movement on the England bench, and it would not be a surprise to see a change made in the next few minutes. The score is still locked at 1-1 in Prague.

England are going to make a double change with Rashford and Barkley preparing to enter the field. It would not be a surprise to see Mount and Sancho replaced here.

ENGLAND SUBS! Indeed, it is Rashford and Barkley for Mount and Sancho.

Something has to happen for England in the final 15 minutes if they wish to secure qualification for Euro 2020 tonight. But the Three Lions do not deserve all three points on the balance of play despite improving in the second half of action here.

Little bit of pressure from the home side in the last couple of minutes, but Pickford remains unmoved between the sticks. Still more than enough time for late drama here.

Sterling again goes down inside the home side's box, but there is no penalty this time. The City attacker needs to be careful as he has been booked in this second period.

SAVE!  Big save from Pickford to keep out a strike from Kral, who had broken into the England box after more smart work. Perhaps should have squared it!

SAVE!  Big save from Vaclik this time to keep out a strike from Kane after the captain had been released inside the Czech Republic box by an impressive Barkley pass.

Both teams are causing problems in the final third, and it does appear that there is going to be a third goal in this game. If it comes, it would be absolutely huge.

CZECH REPUBLIC SUB! Jankto is replaced by Kopic for the home side.

Little over five minutes of the second period remaining in Prague. England need to win if they are to book their spot in the finals of Euro 2020, but a point, under the circumstances, would be far from a disastrous as the hosts have been good tonight.

GOAL!  CZECH REPUBLIC 2-1 ENGLAND (ONDRASEK)

GOAL!  Oh my word, huge! The home side take the lead in the 85th minute as Ondraek sweeps a low Masopust cross into the back of the net for his first international goal!

England are trying to get Tammy Abraham onto the field here.

ENGLAND SUB! Abraham replaces Rice for the away side.

CZECH REPUBLIC SUB! Masopust is replaced by Zmrhal for the home side.

We are into the first of four additional minutes at the end of the 90 here.

YELLOW CARD!  Henderson (England) is booked for a foul on Zmrhal.

Pickford delivers a deep free kick into the Czech Republic box, but the home side manage to clear their lines once again. Time is very much of the essence here.

Czech Republic continue to clear their lines as we approach the final seconds.

SAVE!  Pickford keeps out a late strike from Kopic.

FULL TIME:  CZECH REPUBLIC 2-1 ENGLAND

Wow, what a night! It is the first time that England have lost a tournament qualifier for 10 years, and it has thrown the group wide open ahead of Monday night's fixtures. I shall leave you with the match report from tonight's Group A clash. Thanks for joining us once again!

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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain870121
Q Scotland flag Scotland852117
3 Norway Norway832311
4 Georgia Georgia82248
5 Cyprus Cyprus80080

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q France France871022
Q Netherlands Netherlands860218
3 Greece Greece841313
4 Ireland Rep. Ireland82066
5 Gibraltar flag Gibraltar80080

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England862020
Q Italy Italy842214
3 Ukraine Ukraine842214
4 Macedonia N. Macedonia82248
5 Malta flag Malta80080

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Turkey Turkey852117
Q Croatia Croatia851216
3 Wales flag Wales833212
4 Armenia Armenia82248
5 Latvia Latvia81073

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Albania national flag Albania843115
Q Czech Republic Czech Republic843115
3 Poland Poland832311
4 Republic of Moldova Moldova824210
5 Faroe Islands Faroe Islands80262

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Belgium Belgium862020
Q Austria Austria861119
3 Sweden Sweden831410
4 Azerbaijan Azerbaijan82157
5 Estonia Estonia80171

Group G

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Hungary Hungary853018
Q Serbia Serbia842214
3 Montenegro Montenegro832311
4 Lithuania Lithuania81346
5 Bulgaria Bulgaria80444

Group H

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Denmark Denmark1071222
Q Slovenia Slovenia1071222
3 Finland Finland1060418
4 Kazakhstan Kazakhstan1060418
5 Northern Ireland flag N. Ireland103079
6 San Marino flag San Marino1000100

Group I

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Romania Romania1064022
Q Switzerland Switzerland1045117
3 Israel Israel1043315
4 Belarus Belarus1033412
5 Kosovo flag Kosovo1025311
6 Andorra flag Andorra100282

Group J

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal10100030
Q Slovakia Slovakia1071222
3 Luxembourg flag Luxembourg1052317
4 Iceland Iceland1031610
5 Bosnia Bosnia H'vina103079
6 Liechtenstein flag Liechtenstein1000100


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