England head to Prague as Czech reunion recalls Euro '96
England travel to Prague on 29 September to face the Czech Republic in Nations League Group A3, looking for a fast response after losing to Spain at Wembley. The return game follows in London on 6 October BBC Sport.
England started this Nations League campaign, UEFA's competition for national teams played between major tournaments, with a home defeat. World champions Spain won a thriller at Wembley on 26 September, punishing two England defensive errors, with Mikel Oyarzabal scoring the winner Reuters.
Head coach Thomas Tuchel is not in the mood to shuffle the pack. He called suggestions that he should rotate heavily in Prague "madness" ahead of the Czech game Reuters. Tuchel has also said Cole Palmer misses too many England camps, adding another edge to his squad choices for this double-header.
The London return carries history with it. The Czech visit to Wembley marks the 30-year anniversary of Euro '96, the European Championship held in England in the summer of 1996.
That tournament was the first Euros staged after Czechoslovakia separated into the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Few gave the Czechs much of a chance in a group with Germany, Italy and Russia. It started badly. They lost 2-0 to Germany at Old Trafford.
Then came Anfield. The Czechs beat Italy 2-1, then drew 3-3 with Russia after a late equaliser from Vladimir Smicer. Italy's 0-0 draw with Germany in the other final group game let the Czechs through.
The knockout run became folklore. Karel Poborsky scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over Portugal at Villa Park in the quarter-final. The semi-final against France at Old Trafford finished 0-0, and the Czechs won 6-5 on penalties, with Pavel Nedved, Patrik Berger and Poborsky all scoring from the spot.
The final was back at Wembley, under the old stadium's twin towers, against Germany again. Berger put the Czechs ahead from the penalty spot after 59 minutes. Oliver Bierhoff levelled 14 minutes later. He then scored the winner in extra time through the golden goal, a sudden-death goal that ended the match instantly. It was the first time a major final had been decided that way.
One detail says much about that squad. Smicer flew back to Prague to get married two days before the final, then returned to England on the same day.
What makes this stand out is how that fortnight still shapes the Czech story. Thirty years on, one summer of Poborsky's lob, penalty nerve and a wedding dash remains the benchmark. For England, Prague is about points now, not nostalgia. Stop the errors, beat the Czechs, and the Wembley reunion feels very different.
