England secured a 2-1 victory over ten-man Czech Republic in Prague, with Anthony Gordon and Harry Kane again proving decisive, but the performance left Thomas Tuchel with plenty to ponder.
The win was England's first in the Czech capital since 1908, coming three days after their 3-2 defeat to Spain at Wembley. Gordon and Kane, who also scored in that match, were once more the difference-makers as the Three Lions moved to the top of Nations League A Group C.
Attacking football, eventually
England scored twice in the second half and hit the woodwork either side of the break, yet struggled to impress against a side that sat deep and looked to frustrate. Returning to the Fortuna Arena for the first time since a 2-1 defeat in 2019, they knew a professional display would be required.
Pavel Sulc's red card on 25 minutes for a reckless challenge on Elliot Anderson changed little about the first half, which remained a frustrating watch as England were one-paced and created very little. The second half was better, as the Czechs tired and England found a second gear, though never a third or fourth.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, starting at right-back for the first time in two years, picked up a rogue Czech pass and crossed for Gordon, who headed in to give England a lead they just about deserved. Kane then fired through a defender's legs for his 87th international goal, with Eberechi Eze, Morgan Rogers, Jude Bellingham and debutant Alex Scott all coming close to adding a third.
Defence still under microscope
Much had been made of England's defending after they shipped three more goals against Spain, adding to the nine conceded in their final four World Cup games this summer. Though a first clean sheet in seven games was forthcoming, it was not without nervy moments.
Centre-back Trevoh Chalobah, on his first competitive start, made a decisive block in the opening ten minutes, but positional errors explained why he was needed, and why goalkeeper James Trafford had to smother from Sulc before his sending off. Trafford also parried another shot late on, with Chalobah and Marc Guehi having failed to get tight.
In Prague, England's clean sheet was just a statistic. Tuchel and his players are not out of the woods yet; their approach to defending remains firmly under the microscope.
Gordon becomes England's latest undroppable
Gordon and Kane scored at Wembley, and history repeating itself three days later was no coincidence. Since joining Barcelona, Gordon has taken his game to another level, improving throughout the World Cup campaign.
Gordon said this week that he was appreciated in England for his pace and work ethic, but that his move to Barcelona is alerting people to his decision-making and "football IQ", adding that those who lack such smarts "stand out like a sore thumb" at the club.
The 25-year-old left winger was the only England player taking risks in a lifeless first half and was rewarded less than two minutes after the interval when Alexander-Arnold, who Gordon said he had been "dying to play with", crossed early for him to nod in. Gordon is England's hottest prospect on either flank right now.
Space continued to open up, and Gordon and left-back Lewis Hall nearly capitalised on their Newcastle United chemistry as a give-and-go allowed Hall, on his fifth cap, to bomb on and roll his shot just wide. He had been bright, but Gordon was the best player on the pitch.
