A tentative start for this the last match in this International break, as both sides were feeling each other out, whilst England were coping with four changes in the line-up. It was already a celebration night for Harry Kane as his latest cap took him to a total of 125, equalling Peter Shilton's England record appearance total.

There was almost a mistake by Jordan Pickford as early as the third minute as England passed it backwards and forwards to the goalkeeper, and he was so nearly caught in possession. Luckily a foul by the Czech player saved his embarrassment but that danger is always there with this frustrating ploy. A minute later Morgan Rogers was brought down one of several early fouls by the Czechs.

Seconds later, from the resultant free-kick, Trent Alexander-Arnold forced a diving save from goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek, whilst at the other end more hesitancy from Pickford ended with Alex Kral shooting wide. It was obvious that the Czech's targeted Pickford as they closed him down every time he had the ball at his feet. It is a dangerous game England play with the use of their goalkeeper as it only takes one small mistake and it would be disaster. Several more fouls peppered the early stages but on 13 minutes Rogers had a good chance but shot high and wide. Two minutes later and Alexander-Arnold almost beat the keeper to a through ball but a corner was the only result.

Both sides were using this, "Let's involve the keeper in every move we start" ploy, and it is so frustrating to watch at times. On 18 minutes the Czechs put a little pressure on England with a corner that was cleared and then another dangerous cross was headed clear by Marc Guehi. Kane was very deep so far in this half, Eberechi Eze found it difficult to make headway against the tough defending and then when Jude Bellingham's long pass found Rogers, again there was no end product. Rogers was involved a great deal early on but he could not find the final pass properly despite getting into good positions. But then, on 27 minutes came a stroke of luck and a 'terrific' goal. A good move down the right saw Alexander-Arnold find Kane, in a forward position for once, wide on the right. He hammered a low cross into the middle and the Czech captain, Vladimir Coufal, racing back, fired a brilliant close-range finish past his own keeper that any striker would have been proud of. You had to feel sorry for Coufal though as he was trying to clear the ball….. I think.

By now Pickford was playing centre-half, so far out of his goal was he, but at the other end England came so close to a second goal on the half-hour. Elliot Anderson, who tirelessly drove the midfield all game, had the ball laid on a plate by Rogers for him to score what seemed a certain goal. Sadly, he fired over the bar. It was a bad miss but Anderson atoned for that with a fabulous pass to Rogers on 40 minutes out on the right. This time Rogers hit a clever first time cross low into the middle and there was Kane, unmarked, and hitting it sweetly to celebrate even more on his big night. That goal moved Kane into the 90's and it was the result of some lovely quick one-touch passing by England, their best move so far.

The half ended with a couple of England corners and then Guehi again clearing danger from a Czech free-kick. Not a brilliant half, but 2-0 up and in command saw England happy with that as they trooped off at the break.

The early stages of the second-half saw more of the same as Alexander-Arnold's fierce drive across the box was only just cleared for a corner. England were on the front foot at the start of the half, although Myles Lewis-Skelly is yellow carded for a silly foul and misses the next match. On this form he won't be missed that much. On 53 minutes Kane so nearly made it 3-0 with a trademark shot from 18 yards that just scraped the crossbar before deflecting over. Three minutes later it was a slightly subdued Bellingham who was next to nearly score as Alexander-Arnold and Rogers combined to lay on a chance. The ball was deflected for a corner and from Lewis Hall's kick to the far post, there was Kane leaping high to head down and past the goalkeeper. Now it was 3-0, and Kane moved to 91 goals for his country. Will we ever see that total beaten, I very much doubt it, and he hasn't finished yet!

Alexander-Arnold stormed forward and shot, although it went over the bar it was worth a try and the former Liverpool man had played well. Pickford then frightened us all again, making a hash of another clearance, before Thomas Tuchel made some substitutions. Anderson and Guehi were withdrawn and James Garner and Jarrad Branthwaite replaced them.

On 65 minutes England won a corner and from that Jarell Quansah hit a screamer that nearly decapitated Coufal as his head deflected the shot away. After that there were more substitutions on both sides and the game became a little scruffy, and the urgency levels dropped with England three goals to the good. Kane went off to a standing ovation to be replaced by Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Bellingham and Hall had also already been replaced. It made the play fragmented in the remaining minutes and there was little to enthuse over as the game petered out to a comfortable win for the home team.

It had been a good week for England, and they have now almost certainly qualified for the next round. Spain's late winner in Croatia still sees them top and at the next International break it is almost, probably, maybe, a chance for King Harry to make it to that magical 100 goal target.

Source Notes