Match Summary

England Team

Czech Republic Team

For the first International of the year, Gareth Southgate’s squad reflected the exciting talent at his disposal for this opening European Championships match in a tournament due in 2020. There was a little caution with the inclusion of Jordan Henderson and Eric Dier to bolster the midfield, but, in general, it was a bold and attacking selection by the manager.  It paid off handsomely with a thoroughly dominant performance and five goals.
 
In a cautious opening, England had a ‘good look’ at their opponents, but the first significant moment came when Dier suffered an injury. It was bad enough to force him off after just 17 minutes, and Southgate replaced him by bringing on Ross Barkley. At this time England were looking solid but the first effort on goal came from the visitors six minutes later. It was a speculative shot by Vladimir Darida which flew high and wide, and within a minute England broke down the right and took the lead. So far, Jadon Sancho had looked lively but was giving the ball away too much, but this time he raced onto a wonderful pass from Harry Kane, inside the full-back, hit a first-time cross into the middle, and there was Raheem Sterling stretching to guide the ball home from close range. The keeper had no chance and Sterling continued what he has been doing all season for Manchester City.

Deli Alli, back in the side after injury, was lively over the next ten minutes and England were already in control. Sancho almost sent Henderson free, but the Liverpool man was offside, and then two near misses for England with just over five minutes of the half remaining, first from Sancho, and then from Harry Maguire almost doubled the lead. Both efforts missed the target, but it wasn’t long before England did double their lead.

On 43 minutes. Barkley, increasingly influential, set up Kane, but his shot was blocked away for a corner. From the kick the ball was worked to Sterling and the forward burst between two defenders before crashing to the ground. Pavel Kaderabeck was penalised for a foul, and England had a penalty. Kaderabeck was yellow carded, but it was one of those incidents that some referees would give and some wouldn’t. This referee had no hesitation and Harry Kane smashed the spot-kick home. The goalkeeper, Jiri Pavlenka, got a strong hand to Kane’s kick, but the power of the shot was just too much for him.

So, 2-0 at the break, and England in complete control. Ben Chilwell and Kyle Walker were trying to get forward in support of the attack and Barkley was taking full advantage of his opportunity with some powerful runs. Michael Keane and Maguire looked composed at the back against a weak Czech attack, and Jordan Pickford had not been troubled.

Not surprisingly, the Czechs came out after the break, determined to make an impact. Matej Vydra was sent on as substitute for the ineffective Jakub Jankto at the start of the half and for ten minutes they pushed forward atery opportunity creating a couple of good chances. On 49 minutes David Pavelka had a shot blocked and then, two minutes later, Tomas Soucek had a great chance but headed Darida’s free-kick wide of the England goal, when he might have done better. A minute later and Pavelka combined with Tomas Kalas to force Pickford into a good save to his right. On 53 minutes the goalkeeper then did well to react to Pavelka’s close range header, blocking it on the line when slightly wrong-footed.

Although the Czech side had enjoyed their best spell since the break, England still held the upper hand, in every sense. Just after the hour mark, England settled the result with another excellent goal from Sterling. He received possession in the box but defenders fought to clear the ball. A lucky rebound then fell at Sterling’s feet and he spun to hit a fine left-foot shot into the far corner for a terrific goal. Game over!

After that goal Southgate gave Declan Rice his England debut, replacing Alli, and the Czechs brought on Lukas Masopust for Darida. Within five minutes England increased their lead to 4-0. Another excellent burst by Barkley set up Sterling for a shot from about 20 yards. Remember, he was on a hat-trick, and the luck was on Sterling’s side as the shot struck a defender on the back and completely wrong-footed the goalkeeper, who turned to see the ball cross the line, much to his disgust. Sterling celebrated with the crowd and was then substituted by Southgate who brought on another exciting talent, Callum Hudson-Odoi. (Wonder how long it will be before England’s whole team have double-barrelled names?).

England dominated the remaining 20 minutes as Barkley headed wide, Henderson had a shot blocked, Barkley combined with Hudson-Odoi for the latter to have a shot, which was saved by Pavlenka, and then the goalkeeper did well to stop Kane adding to the goal tally.

With six minutes left England scored a fifth, and rather fortuitous goal. Hudson-Odoi positively went for goal and his shot was pushed out by the goalkeeper. Unluckily for Pavlenka, and even more unluckily for Kalas, the ball struck the defender’s shins and rebounded, oh so slowly, into the net. They rounded off the Czech Republic’s dismal night.

England had played well, and it was a very promising start to the new year, and to their Euro Championship challenge. Several players stood out, none more so that Raheem Sterling, who won the crowd over with a fine all-round display topped off by a hat-trick. You can’t say fairer than that.
    

Source Notes