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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
Live
Live Updates
Tim Hobbs
ByTim Hobbs

Updated 22/06/2021 at 20:53 GMT

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.
19:29
Sixteen years ago today...
19:25
France can sit back because they’ve got Varane and Kimpembe with Kanté in front plus ridiculous attackers to nick them a goal. And they’ve been playing together for years, have the confidence of winners and know they’re the best team in the competition. England, not so much.
19:24
You can see Portugal doing the same. They've got the midfielders to dominate and create against pretty much anyone, but the manager insists on two sitters and the attackers are left foraging for scraps. They could have a midfield of Neves, Bernardo and Bruno – try getting the ball off them – or keep then Jota, Ronaldo and João Félix. But instead, stodge. Maybe they need Carvalho against the better teams, I don't know, but I do know they don't need him and Danilo.
19:24
What's noticeable about England so far is how few options are available to the man in possession. Binning a sitter and encouraging players to take risks might make things better and anyway, England aren't winning anything hoping for a counter, a set-piece or a flash of inspiration.
19:22
Foden has been left out tonight partly because he's on a booking - I'm sure he'll be back for the next game. However, he's good playing wide for City because he doesn't stay wide, but he's not a winger and England need him involved in the game. Sancho, on the other hand, is a winger, who gives goals, assists and another playmaking option, so I'd have him on the right and Foden in midfield. I'd then leave out one of Rice and Phillps, but balance it by playing Bellingham.
19:19
What do I think? Well, now that you ask, England have looked really disjointed so far, so I'd have played Rashford ahead of Shaw because they've a good partnership at club level and England are lacking the intuitive coherence we've seen from the better sides. I also think Rashford is a better player than Sterling, so I'd be looking to pick him in the next game.
19:15
...Harry Maguire returns, replacing Tyrone Mings. It's been a while since he played, but his composure and ability to bring the ball out of defence should be a big plus. Otherwise, Luke Shaw keeps his place at left-back and Kyle Walker returns for Reece James at right-back; Walker is the first choice, and I'd expect him to start however many more games there are.
In midfield, Jack Grealish comes in for Mount. Should England win, Mount will be available for the round of 16, but if not that place is up for grabs, while in attack Bukayo Saka gets a go on one of the two wings, Southgate favourite Raheem Sterling keeps his place.
19:14
No changes for the Czechs, who want to maintain momentum. England, on the other hand...
19:11
19:11
19:10
Teams!
19:08
I was about to bring you the teams, but it is my pleasure to inform you that Roy Keane is roykeaning. On Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell, unable to play tonight because they spent too long talking to Billy Gilmour, who has corona, he said: "I very rarely speak to anyone for five minutes ... who wants to do that after you've been to war?"
Outstanding.