England head to Prague to face Czechia after Spain setback
England travel to Prague on 29 September needing a reset against Czechia in their second Nations League Group A3 game.
The task follows a 3-2 home defeat to Spain in the opener. Mikel Oyarzabal struck in the 74th minute to settle that one in Spain's favour after an open, error-strewn night for England.
It was a sharp contrast to England's World Cup qualifying campaign, which they completed without conceding a goal. That solidity has slipped in 2026. England had kept only four clean sheets in 13 games this year before the trip to Prague, and arrived on a run of six games without a shutout, according to The Guardian.
The summer still hangs over this team too. England lost their World Cup semi-final to Argentina, and head coach Thomas Tuchel is now trying to rebuild momentum in UEFA's Nations League, a biennial competition that groups national teams by ranking.
Tuchel called England "a danger to ourselves" in the Spain defeat. He had said he would resist drastic changes to his defence, and he kept his word in part, refreshing rather than ripping up the back line.
England made four changes from the Spain game. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Trevoh Chalobah, Lewis Hall and Morgan Rogers came in for Jarell Quansah, Ezri Konsa, Nico O'Reilly and Jude Bellingham. Young winger Rio Ngumoha, left out of the matchday squad against Spain, was named among the substitutes.
England lined up in a 4-2-3-1, which means four defenders, two deeper midfielders and three attackers behind a lone striker. James Trafford started in goal behind Alexander-Arnold, Chalobah, Marc Guehi and Hall. Elliot Anderson and Myles Lewis-Skelly sat in midfield, with Bukayo Saka, Rogers and Anthony Gordon supporting captain Harry Kane.
Czechia set up in a 4-3-3, three central midfielders behind three forwards. Matous Kovar started in goal, with Simon Chaloupek, Robin Hranac, Ladislav Krejci and Matej Slama in defence. Lukas Cerv, Pavel Sulc and Michal Sadilek formed the midfield, with Vaclav Radosta, Adam Hlosek and Adam Karabec in attack.
The game was scheduled for 20:45 local time at Fortuna Arena in Prague, also known as Sinobo Stadium, with Turkey's Umut Meler as referee. UEFA lists the tie as a League A Group A3 Matchday 2 fixture, alongside Spain v Croatia in the same group, per UEFA.
For fans, this means a first look at whether England can steady themselves. Prague is a chance to reset. A clean sheet, simply stopping the opposition scoring, would matter almost as much as the result.
