Tuchel: Czechia clash not a ‘must-win’ for England

Thomas Tuchel has expressed that it’s premature to categorize England’s Nations League matchup with Czechia as a “must-win” game, especially following their recent loss to Spain.

England is set to visit Fortuna Arena on Tuesday, looking to rebound from a 3-2 defeat against Luis de la Fuente’s squad.

This loss marked the first time since June 2019 that the Three Lions have dropped a match they were leading at half-time, the previous instance occurring against the Netherlands in the Nations League.

This will be England’s first away game in Czechia since October 2019, when they suffered a 2-1 loss in a European Championship qualifier. In this century, only Spain (three consecutive wins), France, and Sweden (two each) have secured back-to-back victories against England.

With England conceding 13 goals in their last six matches—almost double the seven goals allowed in their first 17 games under Tuchel—the team is in desperate need of improvement.

After facing Czechia, England will head to Croatia and then return to Wembley Stadium to play against Santi Denia’s side on October 6. Despite the loss to Spain, Tuchel insists that it’s not disastrous for the team.

“It’s a bit early for must-win. I understand the sentiment, but at this stage in the group, it shouldn’t be labeled as such,” Tuchel stated to reporters.

“Our objective is always to win. That was the goal against Spain, and it remains the same for Czechia. We must respect the quality they bring; playing in Prague is a challenge with their home support.”

“We prepare to win, and while it’s critical for our confidence, it’s still early in the tournament. The real hurdle is the opponent.”

Pre-Prague preparations pic.twitter.com/ZVVGPCwzc9

— England (@England) September 28, 2026

Historically, England has only lost once in their last nine encounters with Czechia in all competitions (W6 D2), though that defeat occurred during their last visit to the nation in October 2019.

Czechia, like England, is eager to kickstart their Nations League journey after falling 2-1 to Croatia in their opener.

Having lost their last two matches, Czechia hasn’t experienced this level of consecutive defeats since between June and September 2022. However, Tuchel anticipates a challenging match ahead.

“We’ve only analyzed one game from Czechia since they have a new coach,” he noted. “We observed a flexible midfield with positional changes, dynamic wingers, and well-organized attacking full-backs. They are motivated to seize their opportunity.”

“In football, a strong performance is often necessary to build confidence and garner support, especially after a loss. It’s crucial to respond effectively with a positive result.”

Tuchel also indicated that Nico O’Reilly and Ezri Konsa might be available to play, despite recent minor injuries that caused them to miss training.

“I’m uncertain about their availability. They missed training due to minor issues, but those still need to be evaluated. We’ll see how they are on Tuesday.”