England secured their first win in Group C of League A in the UEFA Nations League after beating hosts Czechia 2-0 in Prague on Tuesday in the second round, restoring their balance after losing their opening match of the competition. The Three Lions entered the game after a 3-2 defeat by world champions Spain in the opening round.
Pavel Šulc’s dismissal gives England numerical advantage
England gained an early numerical advantage when Czech midfielder Pavel Šulc was sent off in the 25th minute for a dangerous challenge on Elliot Anderson. Despite playing the rest of the match with 10 men, the hosts held on to a goalless draw until half-time.
England opened the scoring two minutes into the second half when Trent Alexander-Arnold capitalised on a defensive error and sent in a cross that Anthony Gordon converted in the 47th minute. Captain Harry Kane extended England’s lead with a close-range finish in the 69th minute.
The victory gave England their first three points in the group and strengthened their hopes of reaching the semi-finals for the second time. Czechia, meanwhile, suffered their second consecutive defeat under their new Spanish manager Santi Denia after losing 2-1 to Croatia in the first round. England face Croatia on 3 October, then host Czechia on the sixth of the same month.
