Czech Republic 0-1 England
Top spot was on the line at Wembley and that meant Euro 2020 highlights were always likely.
At the same time, results elsewhere in the tournament had meant both nations were through to the last 16 before a ball was even kicked so the intensity of the occasion wasn’t as high as it might have been.
So, would we see a flat-out, end-to-end encounter or a low-key draw?
In the end, the truth was somewhere in between as the contest ebbed and flowed.
The outcome: England top the group but a much tougher last 16 task awaits the Three Lions.
Highlights of the game
Three tournaments ago, England were knocked out after two games amid heavy criticism. Yet a win and a draw so far at Euro 2020 had barely led to a let-up in criticism.
That was to be predicted, as I alluded to at the start of the tournament that over the next month England manager Gareth Southgate will be under more scrutiny than the Prime Minister and a certain royal baby’s name.
And so it has proved with many calling for Southgate’s men to be more on the front foot, playing without fear, to rev the throttle, a time to unleash the shackles.
That they did within 12 minutes.
Jack Grealish, one of three changes to the England side along with starts for Arsenal youngster Bukayo Saka and centre back Harry Maguire, showed silky footwork on the left and his cross was inch-perfect for Raheem Sterling to head home.
Sterling had gone within a whisker of opening the scoring inside the first few minutes, clipping the post after a pinpoint Luke Shaw ball, as England started very much on the front foot.
One could have been two as Maguire played a fine pass to skipper Harry Kane who cut inside and tried to squeeze the ball into the far corner only for Tomas Vaclik to parry the ball away.
For all of England’s spells of control, Vaclik’s opposite number Jordan Pickford had to be alert to deny Tomas Holes from the edge of the box before Tomas Soucek was inches wide with Pickford beaten.
Into the second period and England remained the better side but it was hard to escape the feeling it was a bit flat with both teams already through.
The Czechs, who actually won in qualifying during their previous meeting, were spirited but will not be expected to go much further.
England will – expectation ensures that – but with their next opponents likely to be the reigning European or World champions (or 2014 world champions), the Sbotop Euro 2020 betting odds will change a few times between now and then.
Top of Group D with three clean sheets, job well done so far.
However, the true test for England is yet to come.
Key Statistics
Sterling is only the second player to score each of England’s first two goals at a European Championships after Alan Shearer in 1996, with all four goals among the two players coming at Wembley.
England have won all 12 matches when Sterling has scored.
The Three Lions have kept clean sheets in every group-stage match at a major tournament for only the third time, also doing so at the 1966 World Cup (three matches) and in the second group stage of the 1982 World Cup (two matches).
Southgate has now taken charge of 57 matches for England, surpassing the total of Roy Hodgson (56) in the process – also equalling the number of caps he earned as a player for the Three Lions.
Southgate is the only man to both play and manage 50+ games for England.
What’s next?
England are back in action at Wembley a week today (June 29) where they will play the runners-up in Group F.
That will be against one of France, Portugal, Germany or Hungary.
The Czech Republic will play 48 hours earlier against Holland or Belgium or a week tonight against the winners of Group E.
All the permutations will be known soon.
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