Pavel Sulc's first-half red card helped England recover from a nervy start to register an Anthony Gordon-inspired 2-0 Nations League win over the Czech Republic in Prague. While the Three Lions toiled in the early stages and nearly fell behind twice to presentable chances wasted by Sulc, Barcelona winger Gordon, supported by former Newcastle team-mate Lewis Hall, was a threat throughout. He came close to teeing up an opener while the two sides were still 11 vs 11, but saw Morgan Rogers curl his low cross against the far post on the turn.
Even once Sulc had been dismissed following a VAR review for a studs-up challenge on the shin of Elliot Anderson, it took a reshuffle from Thomas Tuchel and the half-time arrival of Eberechi Eze for many of his team-mates to catch up following a particularly nervous and passive opening period from the Three Lions. But once they did, it was Gordon who took full advantage less than two minutes after the restart to stoop and turn Trent Alexander-Arnold's typically inviting cross home, netting for the third competitive game in a row. Trafford (7), Alexander-Arnold (7), Chalobah (5), Guehi (6), Hall (7), Anderson (6), Lewis-Skelly (6), Saka (5), Rogers (7), Rogers (8), Kane (7).
Subs: Eze (7), Scott (7), Ngumoha (7), Bellingham (6), Gibbs-White (6). Alexander-Arnold later revealed to ITV: "I spoke to Anthony at half-time and I said if I'm getting in the half spaces and putting them [crosses] in, make sure you get to the back post. "You don't expect it to happen that quickly, but it did and it worked." Hall, too, nearly got his just desserts when his dangerous low delivery was turned onto his own post by Wolves defender Ladislav Krejci with Rogers sniffing.
Coincidentally it would be a mix of Rogers and a deflection off Krejci that would tee-up Harry Kane, who else, to sweep home a second with England's next attack to put the result beyond doubt and add his 87th international goal. That gave Tuchel the confidence to give out two competitive debuts to Alex Scott and Rio Ngumoha, both introduced shortly afterwards. Scott would come within inches of a debut goal while Rogers and Eze would both go close to adding to England's lead, but they would at least see out a comfortable and much-needed win to get their Nations League campaign off the ground.
England head coach Thomas Tuchel on ITV: "We played very professionally in the second half. We stepped up, we needed to be a bit more dynamic and put a bit more urgency into our play. "We kept the intensity going and it was very professional.
The effort was still there, it was a deserved victory. It's a bit strange to get an early red card, it's not the best for the spectators or the teams. "But we got an important win, and that's what counts." England goalscorer and man-of-the-match Anthony Gordon on ITV: "I make that run time and time again and only a certain type of player has got the technique, ability and bravery to make the mistake playing that pass.
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