England without a goal against (but also without much shine) to group victory | European Championship 2020

England and the Czech Republic each had 4 points and so they were allowed to decide among themselves who would be the group winner. England did that without Mount after a risk contact and Foden, but with Grealish and the returning Maguire in the base. The Czechs counted on the goals of Patrik Schick, who scored 3 times in the first 2 matches.

England did not let it grow at home, with Raheem Sterling in the lead. After a few minutes Sterling saw his lob end up against the post, but not much later he was in the right place at the far post to head the 0-1 into goal.

Then it was up to the goalkeepers to distinguish themselves. Vaclik needed a very firm hand to block Kane’s shot. On the other side, colleague Pickford pulled out with a gliding dive to push Holes’ icicle into a corner.

The Czechs continued to search for the equalizer with some caution, but Soucek did not have his most efficient attack. First he couldn’t guide the ball through a bunch of English legs and moments later he didn’t get a rebound between the posts. Goalkeeper Pickford was in any case transfixed.

As entertaining was the first half, so soporific was the second. England did have the luxury of bringing Rashford, Bellingham and Sancho between the lines. In theory, mouth-watering substitutes, but on the field they could not breathe new life into the match.

It went from 10 attempts before halftime to 2 after the break. We had to wait until the last 10 minutes for that. Those shots by Pekhart and Kral were more desperate attempts than missed opportunities and so it was a long countdown to the final whistle.

That will be the worst for England, because it will advance to the 1/8th finals as group winner. In it, it can play again at Wembley. With the victory of the Croats in Scotland, the Czech Republic even tumbles from 1 to 3, but they knew in advance that even then they would push through as one of the best thirds.