Goals from Anthony Gordon and Harry Kane secured England their first win of the UEFA Nations League campaign with a comfortable 2-0 success over the Czech Republic, who succumbed to consecutive home defeats for the first time this decade.

2026/2027 UEFA Nations League

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Match Report

The Three Lions’ ability to beat the very best came under scrutiny once again, with defensive lapses proving costly in a 3-2 defeat to Spain on Saturday. Facing the lowest-ranked team in the group may have given Thomas Tuchel’s side cause for optimism, but those familiar rearguard weaknesses came to the fore in the opening exchanges, with early chances falling to Lukas Cerv and Pavel Sulc.

England looked threatening going forward, though, and were within inches of breaking the deadlock when Morgan Rogers was allowed to turn inside the box, seeing his shot rebound off the post, before Elliot Anderson and Bukayo Saka both had their follow-up strikes blocked. It looked like the momentum was shifting in favour of Tuchel’s men, as VAR upgraded Sulc’s yellow card to a red following a studs-up challenge on Anderson. Gordon then tried his luck with an angled strike which stung Matej Kovar’s palms, before the Czech keeper made a fine one-handed stop to deny Kane with half-time approaching.

An England opening goal was looking increasingly inevitable, and it duly arrived just one minute and eight seconds after the restart when Gordon met Trent Alexander-Arnold’s enticing delivery with a perfectly timed header that nestled in the bottom corner. Gordon then looked to turn provider for Lewis Hall, whose close-range shot flew wide of the post. The visitors then hit the woodwork for the second time, as Ladislav Krejci got in front of Rogers to divert Hall’s cross onto the post. However, the second Three Lions goal came via a familiar source when Kane fired home a loose ball from inside the box to put the kibosh on any Czech comeback hopes.

James Trafford was having a quiet night in between the sticks, but was called into action to push away Adam Hlozek’s shot. Rogers and Eberechi Eze both had chances to add extra gloss to the scoreline, with the latter’s shot prompting a fine one-handed stop by Kovar. Ultimately, Tuchel’s side were made to settle for two, providing the perfect response to Saturday’s defeat against the world champions. Meanwhile, Santi Denia’s hosts are still awaiting their first competitive victory inside 90 minutes (D3, L4) in 2026, and few would back them to end that run against Spain in four days’ time.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

4' Saka gets to a rebound inside the box but his effort is too weak to threat the keeper

6' A tremendous drive by Sulc sails towards the middle of the goal, but Trafford makes a save

9' Referee blows his whistle as Kane used excessive force in the tackle during an attack

12' Cerv volleys the ball on the edge of the box after a rebound, but it flies just wide

16' Rogers picks up the ball inside the box and produces a snap shot which smashes against the post

22' Gordon smashes the ball towards goal, but his effort flies just a few inches wide

25' Sulc is shown a straight red card for his terrible tackle on Anderson

30' The linesman signals that Lewis Hall is offside after Saka's effort going wide

35' Yellow Card! Lewis-Skelly booked for his blatant foul

39' A cross takes a deflection off a defender and rebounds towards the net, but the keeper saves it

46' Kane from mid-range lets fly towards the top right corner, but Kovar makes a comfortable save

47' GOAL! Gordon gathers a perfect a cross from Trent and nods home! Czech 0-1 England



52' Lewis Hall receives a precise pass inside the box and takes a shot that flies just wide

58' Lewis Hall moves forward and unleashes a thunderous shot from distance that flies well over the bar

60' Kane is down inside the box under a challenge but the ref takes no action

62' A shot from inside the box by Lewis Hall is deflected onto the post by one of the defenders!

69' GOAL! Kane pounces on a loose ball and beats the keeper with a low shot! Czech 0-2 England



71' Kane, Saka and Anderson come off, Bellingham, Ngumoha and Scott on

80' Rogers rises above the defence, but his header flies narrowly wide of the left post

86' Rogers plays a pass into the box, but Kovar reacts well to snuff out the attack

Line-ups

Czech XI: Michal Sadílek, Ladislav Krejci, Jiri Slama, Kovar, Robin Hranac, Pavel Sulc, Adam Hlozek, Matej Radosta, Adam Karabec, Lukas Cerv, Stepan Chaloupek

Subs: Roman Macek, Michal Sacek, Alex Král, Ondrej Lingr, Pavel Bucha, Ondrej Zmrzly, Lukas Hornicek, Daniel Vasulin, Martin Vitík, Kinsky, Lukas Ambros, Ondrej Kricfalusi

England XI: Kane, Trevoh Chalobah, Alexander-Arnold, Elliot Anderson, Guehi, Morgan Rogers, Gordon, Saka, James Trafford, Lewis Hall, Lewis-Skelly

Subs: Steele, Pickford, Calvert-Lewin, Ngoyo, Gibbs-White, Eberechi Eze, Garner, Jarrad Branthwaite, Bellingham, Quansah, Alex Scott, Rio Ngumoha