Stand: 00:05
Sterling redeemed England – Czech Republic also in the round of 16
Even in the third group game, England can rarely develop their footballing class, but thanks to Sterling’s golden goal they make it to the round of 16. Despite the defeat, the Czechs are also in the knockout round. The highlights in the video.
England’s offensive stars were celebrated before the European Championship. They are still a long way off the hoped-for shine – and yet they are among the title favorites. The Czech Republic celebrates despite the defeat.
EFor the time being, ngland has put their own fans in a conciliatory mood by winning the group and could now even face Germany in a knockout round of the European Football Championship. The Three Lions prevailed 1-0 (1-0) against the previously undefeated Czechs on Tuesday evening at their Wembley Stadium at home, finishing group D first. The Czech Republic had also previously been confirmed as the last sixteen.
This results in the following constellation: If Germany is second in the group after their third preliminary round match against Hungary on Wednesday (9 p.m.), there will be a highly explosive classic against England next Tuesday, also in London. Attacker Raheem Sterling (12th minute) scored the victory goal in front of up to 22,500 spectators.
Two England goals – twice Sterling
As against Croatia (1-0) and Scotland (0-0), the English looked for the way forward from the start. But unlike in their first two games, this time they rewarded themselves for their offensive efforts. Ten minutes after he had already put a nice lift over the storming Czech goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik on the right post (2nd), the bustling Sterling took the lead. Jack Grealish, one of four newcomers to the Three Lions’ starting line-up and one of their assets that evening, crossed from the left flank into the six-yard area – and the Manchester City striker nodded off to his second tournament goal.
And something else differentiated the hosts’ appearance from their previous ones at this EM: They stayed at it after the brisk initial phase. They often did not find the really big playful solutions. Captain Harry Kane, who failed with a shot from close range at the well-reacting keeper Vaclik, could have increased in the 26th minute. The Czechs, on the other hand, only got better into the game after about half an hour. Tomas Holes tested England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford with an attempt from the second row (28th), Tomas Soucek shot just past the left (35th).
Leverkusen striker Patrik Schick, who has scored all three of the Czechs’ previous three goals at this European Championship, remained completely pale in the stands in front of UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin and Prince William this time. Eight minutes before the break, Vladimir Coufal falsified the ball dangerously in the direction of his own goal, but guest keeper Vaclik was again on the spot.
Sancho is then substituted on
The English, who had to do without Ben Chilwell and Mason Mount, also controlled the second half over long distances. The defender and the offensive man had to go into isolation as close contacts to the Scot Billy Gilmour, who tested positive for Corona after the game on Friday. On the other hand, Jordan Henderson, who came on for the first time at this tournament after a long injury break, made a good start. Kane missed a fine pass from the midfielder in the penalty area (50th).
With increasing playing time, the intensity and level continued to decrease. The Czechs tried to stimulate their offensive by taking on the talent Adam Hlozek – in vain. England coach Gareth Southgate brought Dortmund’s Jew Bellingham and stabilized his midfield. In the 83rd minute, substitute Tomas Pekhart from the Czech Republic created another hint of goal danger, but shot past 16 meters to the right. A minute later, Bellingham’s club colleague at BVB, Jadon Sancho, came to his longed-for first appearance at this European Championship. The alleged 2-0 by Henderson was rightly not given because of an offside position (86th).
Goalscorer Sterling cheered after the win: “We played quite well at times. But we can and must get better. “
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