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Hello, good evening and welcome to Czech Republic v England! On the one hand, this match doesn’t mean much – both sides are into the knockouts – but on the other hand it means plenty, given the varying quality of potential opponents. Except no one knows who they might be, a defeat might work out better than a victory, and you never know how good a draw is until you’ve made your way through it, so maybe we were right to begin with. Not really! Both sides could use a performance, both sides are repping for their families, and that’ll be more than enough to see us right.

Euro 2024 / Group Stage
Wembley / 22.06.2021
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Tim Hobbs
ByTim Hobbs

Updated 22/06/2021 at 20:53 GMT

6'
Saka has his first ball to chase but runs into Boril. There seems to be an opinion that he's earned his spot on the training pitch, and that sounds likely to me - but he also gave Boril an absolute going-over when Arsenal played Slavia not that long ago.
5'
Every time Grealish gets the ball there's a wave of excitement in the crowd, people expecting something to happen. It's not especially evidence-based, but I daresay it gives him and England confidence and any opponent something to think about.
5'
I'd wondered earlier who'd be on which wing; it's Saka right and Sterling left.
4'
This is much better from England, who are running in behind and looking sharper in the their passing.
2'
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Shaw collects the ball on halfway and in space, clipping a tremendous channel pass over the top for Sterling ... AND HE'S IN! Vaclik's already dashed out to meet him, making Sterling's mind up for him - he chips, and it's going in, it's going in ... IT'S HIT THE POST!
2'
England try to play out from the back, the Czechs press, and Pickford has to hoof. Of course he does.
1'
Lee Dixon is very happy that Grealish is playing. I must say, how sure all the ex-pros are about him is very compelling, because they know what it takes and they know the game.
1'
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And away we go!
20:01
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The players take the knee. All black lives matter.
19:58
FYI: Wembley has seen the fewest goals of all the grounds being used.
19:57
Anthem time or, as I like to call it, footballers singing badly. Nothing like it.
19:56
And here they come!
19:55
The players are tunnelled...
19:52
If England start at a serious pace tonight, I think they'll win by a couple. But if they don't, they could easily lose.
19:50
There's been a lot of talk comparing Grealish to Gazza, and I see elements of it. But what Grealish doesn't have is the size, running power, and speed, so Gazza-style performances are a lot to ask.
19:48
19:45
I guess what I'm saying is I think Southgate sees him as a strong option late in games, if you need a goal or need to hold the ball and win free-kicks.
19:42
On ITV, Keane, Gary Neville and Ian Wright are all big fans of Jack Grealish. They're talking about his courage to take the ball, and I agree, it's excellent. Thing is, where do you play him? I doubt there's a vacancy on the wing, because if Foden's playing I'm sure Southgate will want the balance of Sterling or Rashford on the other side. And given there are two holders playing tonight, with England already through, there's no chance that changes making it him or Mount ahead of them. He'd have to do something very significant tonight to displace him.
19:39
19:36
I think Saka will enjoy himself tonight. He's a brilliant player and doesn't wait to be asked, exactly what England need (though like Sterling and Kane, he's relying on improved service).
19:32
The Czech Republic, then. Anyone who's seen Sparta Prague play European football these past couple of seasons will know they've got good things going on and, of course, they've got the very thing England doesn't: a striker in form. I've thought about Patrick Schick's goal a lot this last week, but it's not just that - he's always had a lot of talent and it looks like the penny might've dropped.