England beat Czech Republic - 5 Live Reaction

0:00This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK. Fall flavours are waiting for you at Whole Foods Market. Cozy picks all through the store, like maple leaf cookies from 365 brand. Swing by the bakery for pumpkin cheesecake, here for a limited time, and pumpkin turmeric bread freshly baked every single day. Sip the season with 365 brand cinnamon spice coffee and pumpkin spice creamer. While you still can, spice up fall at Whole Foods Market. Hey, this is Anthony from Raiders of a Lost podcast. With movies, the actors get all the buzz. But nothing happens without the crew behind the scenes. That's how it is with Geico.

0:43They're your support system behind the scenes. From finding you savings to handling your claim quickly. And you probably don't even think about it. You know what that's called? Peace of mind. So here's to the gaffers, key grips, and yes, Geico. Behind the scenes, taking care of all the hard stuff, so you have the confidence to keep moving. Learn more at Geico.com.

1:26agree with what Paul Robinson said on commentary routine? I think so. I think it was quite easy. Obviously, it's difficult when the Czech Republic go down to 10 men. They sit in, they make life difficult for you. There's not really many spaces to pick the passes through, but I think the most important thing tonight was being patient and finding a solution and I think getting the early goal in the second half always helped that. But yeah, it was relatively an easy night, but it could have been so tricky. Yeah, would follow at half time didn't you you said that they needed to get the early goal they needed to show more attacking intent and that's kind of exactly how that second half played out really and you could see that was the message that Thomas Tuchel had given them at half time in the dressing room because immediately they started on the front foot and I think him making that change changes the mindset of the team as well yes they were attacking and for large parts of the first half they had over 75 percent of the possession camped in the final 25 yards of the pitch but they just couldn't unlock the door it was slow at times it was methodical at times and that's exactly what he said at half time move the ball quicker and with him bringing Eze on at times him and Morgan Rodgers occupied a similar type of space as the second half progressed but that first goal so early on in the second half immediately changed the mentality of the England team and they made it easy for themselves yeah and that's maybe what they didn't do at times well we saw it didn't we at the World Cup Stephen when they couldn't break these teams town got frustrated and then whereas at least they got themselves in a lead to almost hold on to tonight they had something to protect Yeah, absolutely.

2:56It's just difficult when you're going up against teams who know if they go toe-to-toe against you, it's going to be very difficult and they can't do that. So ultimately, when you're a top team in world football, teams are going to sit back, they're going to defend. It's very difficult to break down. Me and Robbo have done this many times on the training ground where you play attack versus defence and there's only six defenders in place and it's the back four and two midfielders. And more often than not, the attacking team can't break them down because they're not disjointed, they're not out of place and that's very difficult when you've got extra players in that situation all you're hoping for is and then it shines daft you're hoping that they actually have a couple of counter-attacks which drags players out of position and then that'll afford you little spaces in behind to exploit and yeah I think the ball was moved quicker in the second half I think that's the one thing you've got to do is you've got to commit players out of positions and try and bring them out which will then create space for other players and I thought England did that well in the second half And we need to give Thomas Tuchel some credit, don't we, Stephen, as well?

3:57Because there was a lot said, obviously, what happened against Argentina. But if you look back to the opening game against Croatia in the World Cup, we spoke a lot about what he changed at half-time. He didn't quite have the same effect tonight and a different level of game, of course. But he made changes and whatever he said worked. Yeah, 100%. And I think Thomas Tuchel, whether he admits it or not, and he is quite a stubborn guy, he probably will know in the back of his mind he made mistakes against Argentina but people deserve a second chance to try and correct that and I think it was his first major tournament as a manager in international football and I think he has to be braver at times I think there's times where you do have to defend i.e.

4:40away in Mexico when you are down to 10 minutes a little bit different but when you're playing Argentina and you're a goal up and suddenly you start retreating and defending and it's a different type of game. When you're playing against 10 men yourselves, then you've got to be proactive and put attacking players onto the pitch and he did that tonight. So he's got that opportunity to learn, to grow as a manager and he will continue to do that. I think deep down in the back of his own mind and his staff's minds as well, they know they probably could have done better throughout the World Cup at times and especially in that Argentina game.

5:11But hopefully this is the time now leading into the Euros when he puts that right and we go into the Euros in a great place. Yeah, certainly hope so. You two loved a clean sheet in your playing days. Did you see us play? I was going to say, you've got the wrong people. Especially when we're together. Well, you tried. That's the right words, Kelly. OK, well, you tried to get clean sheets during your careers. I was trying to be nice. Then that's what England got tonight. How important is that, Paul? It's hugely important. I mean, they've been so porous in recent games. I mean, they conceded 12 goals in eight games at the World Cup.

5:50And the recent record, you know, the amount of goals that they've conceded. Granted, there was the France game in that stat as well. But they've not kept a clean sheet for six straight games, conceding 13 goals. So it was important tonight that they did keep a clean sheet, especially against the 10 men. And when James Trafford was so underemployed, it's about concentration. And we've seen the goals that England have conceded of late. Most recently, the Spain game. there are individual errors and there are goals that were avoidable so defensively for England the question marks were asked and that will please Thomas Tuchel as much as it will please him to get the three points and the goals at the other end the defensive performance yes it was easy and yes they were against ten men but about the concentration and the way that they applied themselves the clean sheet was an absolute must this evening and it's possibly one of the easiest ones that James Trafford will get but it's an important one for him and the team There was a few moments in the first 15 minutes or so where when Trent I think it was the throwing on the far side or Chalaba put it into Trent Alexander-Arnold he loses the challenge and they break you think maybe a better team capitalises on that there was the Elliot Anderson one where he lets it go under his foot and I'm thinking if that's Spain do we get punished?

6:57I don't think you can afford to make those mistakes and against a better team this is a Czech team that was very very average at the World Cup and a team that's almost in that transitional phase where they're trying to play a different type of football but they're still growing and getting used to it a better team would have punished England with those couple of opportunities. So I think as much as we were comfortable when we went down to 10 men, I still think there's elements where there's just a few lapses of concentration. And I know you're going to ask Robbo about James Trafford's game tonight and how he played.

7:29I thought the save he made where he came out and smothered the striker when he went through was a great save and a brave save. Yeah, I think his depth perception is something that I like because England play a high line and his reading of the through ball is very, very good. And that's very difficult as a goalkeeper. It's probably the hardest ball on the field to read. And actually, he didn't get sucked in too close to the ball, that save that he made in the first half. And in the second half, it was interesting as well because the one attack that they did have the checks, they were three on three.

7:55The striker chose to take on the shot from 25 yards. And actually, he realises that he's not done anything for the whole game, James Trafford. And he doesn't take any risks with it. He doesn't try and make a catch where he leaves himself potentially open for an error. He puts two solid hands behind it and pushes it out the danger area. It was a simple performance, but it was simple and effective. And he made it as simple as he could. What about Trent Alexander-Arnold, Stephen? Because he got the assist and there was a lot made of the line-up when it came out. The fact that he was back in there and the fact that maybe he had a bit of a point to prove tonight.

8:25Well, he does have a point to prove because he's like any other player wanting to play for his country. And that's understandable. My big thing is with Trent Alexander-Arnold Is that essentially he's better as an inverted full-back And in the first half they wanted him really high and wide And there was times where he was beyond Saka And I'm thinking that's just not his game at all He wants to isolate Saka in a 1v1 situation And drop a little bit further inside So that when that ball does come back to him He's got a view of the pitch And we saw the quality of ball that he puts in for the goal We know he's capable of that.

9:02I think playing him on the touchline is just not his game at all. I think it's a little bit different with Lewis Hall on the left-hand side because he loves to overlap, whereas Trent doesn't want to really overlap. He wants to just back the game up and he wants to back his winger up. And I think that also helps Pakaio Saka as well because he wants to be isolated in a 1v1 situation. And then if he's smart enough and thinks, you know what, I'm getting doubled up, well, where's my free player? it's Trent Alexander-Arnold who's going to be in five yards of space well you give a player of that quality time and space he's going to pick quality balls or he's going to pick at least one in the game and we saw that for the goal and these are the type of games sorry Kelly that the manager will utilise him in because defensive responsibilities are not going to be too taxing I think if we're playing against better opposition with no disrespect meant anywhere where there's more of a defensive role for him he's going to get asked to tuck in and make it narrow and his defensive responsibilities are going to outweigh his offensive actions.

9:59I think those are the type of games where the question marks from Thomas Tuchel, from Jose Mourinho, his club manager, because like John said in commentary, he plays Denzel Dumfries there instead of Trent Alexander-Arnold and he deploys him in a higher role. So I think against lesser opposition, you can get away with playing him because of his qualities in the final third in the opposition's half. But defensively, I still don't think that managers trust him. So do you think almost he actually gives England another option or maybe option just for certain games then, Stephen? Yeah, quite possibly.

10:28I think when you're playing against a team that's sat deep and hard to break down, how often do we see it with Liverpool when he was there that you just see this killer pass out of nowhere and you'd be like, wow, no one else can hit that pass. I mean, I've likened him to Kevin De Bruyne. He's one of the only players who can match De Bruyne's level of passing and that's from a right-back position, which is very, very rare. But he is that type of player and you've got to be patient with him. You've got to over cover him at times. And that's part and parcel of it. But when you're a player within that team and you know the qualities that he's got, you're happy to do that because you think, well, this is a game changer.

11:08This is a player who can pick the pass that perhaps no one else on the pitch can pick. Maybe that's what Thomas Tuka will have seen tonight in that moment. And now it's a good headache maybe for him to have, how he can maybe utilise him in certain situations. situations a very good problem for Thomas Tuchel at the moment is the form of Anthony Gordon isn't it Paul you described him as the best player on the pitch tonight again and I think he was against Spain I just think the the confidence that he's got you know people raised a couple of eyebrows when when he went to Barcelona for the money that he did and Marcus Rashford came back to Manchester United but the way that Anthony Gordon started the season like I said before the start of this game he had a goal or an assist every 66 minutes in his last five internationals so that shows what a key part of this England team that he's become.

11:52That left-hand side, there was a question mark over who was going to play there, but I think in the World Cup, we saw Anthony Gordon take it to a different level, and I think there's certain parts or certain games in the World Cup where he was substituted, and he shouldn't have been. I think others should have come off instead of him, because the ability to run in behind, and the legs that he's got, and I've said it so many times, he's a winger that plays with the opposite foot on the opposite side, but he doesn't always come inside he's quite capable and he does it so often of going around the outside of his fullback on his left foot so once he's done that once and he's cut inside a couple of times he's got the fullback on toast because he doesn't know which way that he's going to go and Anthony Gordon full of confidence running at pace like like he does he can go either way and he's causing fullbacks all kinds of problems and he's picking his goals and he's picking his spaces in the 18 yard box I'm sure you guys heard his comments this week where he said maybe now he's being appreciated maybe when he was over here we just used to talk a lot more about his pace but maybe we're appreciating him more technically now.

12:48Stephen, I also wonder what you made of his development and the way he's maybe evolved since becoming a Barcelona player. I think he will evolve and I think he will change purely because of the way that the tactics are in Spain. I think you'll learn from the players. I think what he's already shown in the games that I've seen him play for Barcelona and also in a couple of games I've seen him play for England since he's been a Barcelona player and been in and around the team, not the World Cup, this camp now, he's more efficient with his running. He knows when to run, how to run, when to press, when not to press.

13:21I think at times, when he was in Newcastle, it was just press at every single opportunity. And he'd get to around about 50, 60 minutes and it was almost like he's running on empty. He will run to the 90th minute, but not at the high level that he can and not at the sensible level. And I think both on and off the ball, I think we'll see a more mature player. He is a clever player. He's a very smart guy intellectually, so he has got a decent IQ on the football pitch. I think he's shown that in the short time at Barcelona. Hopefully it'll be better for England in years to come because we'll see a better Anthony Gordon.

13:57But I also think his performance tonight was better, arguably, than against Spain because in the first 15 minutes he just didn't have it his way in the game tonight. Again, he was patient, but I also think that relationship with Lewis Hall is key. I think they know each other inside out and I think Lewis Hall knows when to overlap him he knows when to underlap he knows when to sit and wait and I think that's vitally important that relationship going forward Yeah, he attempted more shots in this match than any other player on the pit

14:38Fall flavours are waiting for you at Whole Foods Market. Cozy picks all through the store, like maple leaf cookies from 365 brand. Swing by the bakery for pumpkin cheesecake, here for a limited time, and pumpkin turmeric bread freshly baked every single day. Sip the season with 365 brand cinnamon spice coffee and pumpkin spice creamer. While you still can, spice up fall at Whole Foods Market. At QVC, fall shopping is more than just checking out. It's discovering the brands you love across beauty, fashion, home, and culinary all in one place. Whether you're getting ready for crisp mornings, cozy nights, or everyday moments, QVC has what you need for the season ahead with brands like Laura Geller, Philosophy, Ninja, and so many more.

15:33Shop now at QVC.com.

15:40I'm Steve Bracknell, Assistant Manager of Sunday League Powerhouses, the Royal Oak FC. And I'm back in changing room at Royal Oak for a new season of Games Gone, the podcast that takes you back to the grassroots of the game. With my colleague Paul Sampson and Bob the Bucke. And this season, we're aiming for promotion to Division D of the Sheffield Sunday Imperial League. Games Gone, the Steve Bracknell podcast. Listen on BBC Sounds. You're listening to the Football Daily Podcast with Kelly Summers. Here's Alex Scott with John Murray. Yes, now an interview the type of which football should be all about because Alex Scott has made his debut here in Prague and I guess it'll always be a very special place for you.

16:31Yeah, of course I'll always remember this place now. England debut, it's nice what dreams are made of and something that probably when I was younger and maybe even 15, 16 wasn't a reality at all. So I've worked really hard and it's a proud moment for me, of course, and my family as well. How did you feel when Thomas Tuchel beckoned you across to go on? Yeah, I couldn't wait, to be fair. Yeah, I had no nerves at all, really. I've said I was more nervous for the speech to the lads after the game. But yeah, I was just obviously happy to get my opportunity. I've been on a few camps now. I know the boys pretty well, staff as well.

17:05So yeah, it was great for me to finally get on the pitch. itching for the moment to come? Yeah that's that's pretty much it um like I said I had a chance last November and then obviously in the summer as well before before the World Cup um and yeah I just couldn't wait to get on the pitch today you know it's felt like a long time coming um and yeah I'm really happy to to make my debut the lads have been brilliant and the staff as well so it's a great group to be be a part of. There was a moment there where it looked it might open up for you to score on your debut? Yeah that was something I thought just go out and enjoy it you know you You only make your England debut once.

17:36So I didn't want to just keep it safe and keep passing it around. You know, I wanted to get up the ball and show what I can do. And, you know, that's the strength of mine is dribbling and then breaking lines with a dribble. And, yeah, it just sort of opened up massively. And I was off balance a little bit. So I don't know where the shot actually went. I haven't seen it. But, yeah, it was nice to get an opportunity. And, yeah, hopefully I took it. So what did you say in your speech to the others? I'm sure you'll see it later. Obviously, thank the players for, you know, making it as easy as possible and the staff as well for the opportunity.

18:04and mentioned a little bit about some of the lads in there I've played in the youth team with, so it was nice to be on the pitch with them and with the seniors. Who are the, when you think, who will this mean most to beyond yourself, who are the names that come straight into your mind? My partner, for sure. She's been there with me for a good six years now, so she's seen everything. My parents, obviously massive for me. My brother, growing up, like I said, playing football non-stop. My granddad passed away last week, so for him, obviously, a special thing. It's a shame he didn't see it, but he would have been looking down and proud of that one.

18:39That must make it emotional for you. Yeah, it was tough. It was tough last week. I found out on camp just before the Spain game. He was the proudest man. He came to all my matches whenever he could. He was my biggest fan. So, like I said, he'd been up there watching and super proud of me. Have they given you the cap? There it is. So you're on number? 1301. Forever? Yeah, again, I remember that forever. I know some of the lads have it tattooed on them as well. So it's something to think about. Proud, proud night. For sure. Well done, Alex. Nice to talk to you. A word on him, Paul, because there's been a lot said about him in recent weeks in terms of transfers and how well he's been doing at Bournemouth.

19:18Does it look like he's adapting on the international stage as well? Yeah, I mean, he's still only 23, isn't he? He's been given his opportunity here by Thomas Tuchel. It was only going to be a matter of time in this international break because it's so long that he was going to get his opportunity. and I think he came on tonight in a game that was very open and it was a nice game to come on to, in all honesty. The team winning comfortably, dominating possession and it's just the type of game that was ideal for him. He had plenty of space in the middle of the midfield. He ventured forward once, he nearly scored actually.

19:45He took it from inside his own half, played a lovely one-two, got to the edge of the box, curled one just wide of the top left-hand corner and the biggest compliment you can say, he didn't look out of place and he fitted in. I guess maybe the only frustration, if we are going to pick it apart a little bit more, Stephen, is that we probably still want to see more goals from England, don't we? Particularly when they're playing against a team down to 10 men. Yeah, but it's very difficult, Kelly. And I think that the problem is, is that we're talking about international football here. These are all the best players at all the clubs that come together.

20:15And as much as Czech Republic are in a very difficult situation when they're down to 10 men, that they're in front of their own crowd. They're going to be organised. They're going to be tough to play against. And they were exactly that. They're not going to be too adventurous because what they don't want to be is they don't want to be the team that England's stuff five-passed. They want to be the team that was difficult to play against, organised and can see progression under the new manager. And I think they're probably happy with what they've seen in the last couple of games against Croatia and then tonight against England.

20:46So, yeah, we want more goals, but you've got to respect the opposition as well. And you've got to understand that international goals are very, very difficult to come by. OK, well, one man who never struggles with goals is Harry Kane. Three goals in four matches for the England captain. He's with John Murray. Yes, thank you very much, Kelly. Harry Kane is here. Job done tonight, Harry, yeah? Yeah, job done. Professional performance. Yeah, it wasn't the most exciting game of football, but sometimes you just have to do what you need to do, and we've done that. We never really looked in fret. We finished the game off when we had to, and I think coming off the back of a really tough game on Saturday, you could see it maybe in a bit of the tempo and a bit of the legs of some of the lads.

21:27You still have to be careful. You still have to be professional and win the game. Good clean sheet, and we take it into the next one. Yeah, the big turning point at the weekend with your penalty. Tonight, a big turning point when Schultz was sent off in the first half. That really changed the game, didn't it? Yeah, sometimes when, especially a team who likes to defend anyway, get a man sent off, it becomes even tougher because they defend with 10 men and they're just looking for the counter-attack. So you have to be really patient. We said in the first half we was moving the ball a bit too slow, taking too many touches, I think.

21:57Especially against 10, you have to move it quick, get it out wide, open the space, and then as they tie, the spaces will open up. We come out in the second half with more intensity and obviously getting the goal straight away helped. And then we finished the game off nicely. Obviously nice for me to get back on the score sheet and see the game up. With Spain winning as well tonight, do you kind of have the suspicion that if you're going to win this group, you might have to win all of the matches left? I'd say so. when you look at Spain's record over the last years that seems to be the case but that's nothing we're afraid to try and do we have another tough game away from home on Saturday it's a big match in terms of the group and where we lie and if we win that we'll be in a great position going into next week and then obviously November as well so yeah, important one for now is just about recovery I think a lot of the lads are putting a lot of effort I think pretty much every outfield player has had some minutes so far in this camp and that's good as well so we're going to need everyone again to be fresh and sharp for Saturday's match.

22:53Anthony Gordon looks as though he's really stepped on after a move to a giant club. You know that feeling. It really seems to have lifted his game again, doesn't it? Yeah, for sure. I think sometimes it gives you that confidence. It gives you that belief. Even though you have self-belief, it gives you even more belief that you belong at the highest level and I think he's showing that both for Barcelona and for England. His performances the last couple of games have been some of his best. he's played in an England shirt and I think he's just relishing putting a shirt on, being one of the main men in the team and again today he was the guy making a difference, making it really difficult for them and we're going to need him, you know he's an important player for us, he showed that in the World Cup and also so far in this camp so yeah for him especially recover well and get ready for Saturday.

23:38As you can imagine Harry we've been talking a lot about Manchester City today, as the England captain with Mark Gay and Elliot Anderson in the team. Did you have to do a bit of captaincy there with an arm around the shoulder? No, to be honest today, I didn't even know the news literally until after the game now. I've just been told I've been off my phone all day. So I can't comment on it now. I'm sure over the next days it'll be spoke about in a casual way. But I always say when we're here, we're England. We have our England head on and those guys will deal with it obviously when they're back.

24:11From our point of view, it's just about Croatia on Saturday. Thanks, Harry. Well done tonight. Thank you very much. Kelly? Thank you very much, John. The England captain there with John Murray after that win and his goal, of course, against the Czech Republic. We should also mention that, really, Stephen, given the news coming out about Manchester City this evening. We speculated over whether it would affect City's players playing tonight. Did you see any signs of that? I'm not totally sure, I believe, Harry came when he says that he didn't know and the players weren't really aware. Yeah, I'm sure the players will have been aware, but I'm sure he just doesn't want to get brought into talking about the subject.

24:43Yeah, totally understandable. It's not something that he has to deal with. It's another football club. I think from the England players' point of view, they'll have got the game on the way tonight and then they'll have looked at that situation and spoken to agents, representatives of the club to see where the land lies and what's about to happen or what could happen. but essentially you're just focusing on your game tonight because you're playing for your country, you're out of that environment at the moment but it'll definitely be on the players' minds, they'll definitely be wondering what the future of the club might look like, where it could be.

25:17Yeah, it's going to be an interesting time for those players. Yeah, it is indeed and I'm sure they'll be being protected, they'll be being asked about it in the coming days as well. As for England overall, I thought it was interesting, Harry Kane mentioned the word intensity, Paul, and it was something, I guess when I asked before about do we just want to see more goals from England against teams when they've got down to 10 men, maybe it's not the goals, maybe it's just the intent and the intensity that we want to see more of. The performance level, I think that's what it is, in all honesty. And I think we saw that against Spain.

25:47You know, we came up against a side that were better than us, but we actually had a go at them. You know, we went down swinging. Yes, our defensive frailties were exposed, but the performance level and the style of play that England adopted, They didn't try and defend weaknesses. They didn't try and sit back in a low block because they were respectful of Spain. They tried to get in their faces and they tried to go and win a football match. And every time that we see an England team on the pitch, from Thomas Tuchel's point of view, I think we want to see this England side set their stall out to go and win a game, not just to defend.