Tuchel faces challenge of strengthening England’s defense against Czechia.

Both Czechia and England faced challenges in their initial Nations League matches, with Czechia falling to Croatia and England losing to Spain.

England engaged in a thrilling match against Spain, leading earlier but ultimately losing 3-2 after failing to maintain their advantage.

Czechia was similarly disappointed, as Luka Modric guided Croatia to a 2-1 victory, highlighting his timeless talent.

Consequently, both teams sit at the bottom of Group A3 with no points, and they’ll be eager to claim a win as they approach the third match of the group stage.

Who will rise victorious at Fortuna Arena? Utilizing Opta data, we explore the pivotal aspects ahead of Tuesday’s showdown.

Out for MD-1 work pic.twitter.com/4yF3GPG0iA

— England (@England) September 28, 2026

What’s anticipated?

Both squads see this match as critical, especially given the demanding pace of the Nations League, with England being favored to win.

England has only lost one of their last nine contests against Czechia across all competitions (with six wins and two draws).

However, their sole defeat was during their last trip to Czechia in October 2019, when they lost 2-1.

As they head to Prague, they hold a 68.8% chance of victory, alongside an 18.7% chance for a draw.

This century, only three teams have managed to win consecutive home games against England: Spain (three matches), France, and Sweden (both with two).

Czechia hopes to join that elite group but is currently given only a 12.4% chance of securing the win.

Can Tuchel address defensive issues?

England encountered a tumultuous match at Wembley, where a blunder from Marc Guehi led to an early goal by Lamine Yamal, but Anthony Gordon and Harry Kane scored to put England ahead at halftime.

However, the tide shifted after Kane missed a penalty, allowing Spain’s Alex Baena and Mikel Oyarzabal to clinch the match for them.

Discussions have intensified about England’s identity during this international period, particularly focusing on how to optimize player performance, especially defensively.

It is crucial for Thomas Tuchel to reinforce their defense promptly, following a match that marked the first time since June 2019 England has made multiple errors leading to goals in a competitive setting.

England has conceded 13 goals in their last six matches, nearly double the number during Tuchel’s initial 17 games in charge (seven conceded).

They’ve notably allowed at least three goals in their last two matches, including a dramatic 6-4 win over France to take third place at the World Cup; such a streak hasn’t occurred since February 1927.

This trend starkly contrasts their early performances when they went through qualifying for the previous tournament without conceding a single goal.

What’s more, England has lost two of their last three outings across competitions, including a painful 2-1 defeat to Argentina in the World Cup semi-final, matching the number of losses they suffered in their previous 23 matches.

Fortunately for England, they maintain strength in attack, with Jude Bellingham continuing to shine after the World Cup.

Though he did not score against Spain, he assisted Gordon’s opening goal and drew a penalty in the second half.

Bellingham has been involved in a remarkable nine goals over his last nine international matches (seven goals, two assists), making him the most impactful player for England since the World Cup.

Gordon also made his mark, scoring in consecutive appearances for the first time for the Three Lions after finding the net against both Argentina and Spain.

Despite Declan Rice’s absence, Elliot Anderson has stepped up effectively, reclaiming possession more times than any other player in England’s match against Spain (13 recoveries).

Since his international debut in September 2025, Anderson has led possession recoveries (125 times in 18 matches), surpassing every other England player during that time period.

Czechia aims to solidify their home advantage again

Czechia’s recent 2-1 loss to Croatia broke a 19-game unbeaten streak at home (with 14 wins and 5 draws).

Modric opened the scoring, and although Adam Karabec equalized quickly, Czechia succumbed again to Marco Pasalic, who scored after coming off the bench.

They last faced consecutive home losses in June 2016, but given their recent performances, coach Santi Denia likely harbors some concerns.

Czechia has endured two straight defeats in all competitions, the last instance of a similar losing streak occurring from June to September 2022 (four losses).

During a tough World Cup campaign, they finished at the bottom of their group with only a single point (one draw and two losses).

Against Croatia, they struggled offensively, recording only five shots worth 0.9 expected goals (xG), with just two on target.

Moreover, they managed only eight touches in the opposition’s box, and they were caught offside six times—a statistic Denia knows must improve for them to challenge England effectively.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Czechia – Adam Karabec

Karabec has an impressive record, averaging a goal or assist every 89 minutes for Czechia (three goals, one assist in 355 minutes).

He scored their only goal in the last match and was one of the few players to register a shot on target.

England – Harry Kane

Kane has scored four goals in six Nations League matches since the start of the 2024-25 season.

His scoring tally has already surpassed his total from the first three editions he played in, during which he scored three times across 18 games.

Under Tuchel, Kane has netted 17 times in 19 appearances for England, ranking him among the leading scorers for European nations since Tuchel’s arrival, just behind Erling Haaland (26), Kylian Mbappe (19), and Mikel Oyarzabal (18).