Anthony Gordon gives England lift-off in the Nations League with match-winning display against Czech Republic – but uncertainty in one key area still remains for Thomas Tuchel despite 2-0 win, writes IAN LADYMAN

Thomas Tuchel is learning what it feels like to be an England manager. Expectation will always be sky high and the margin for error in the court of public opinion is mercilessly slight.

It was as well, then, that his England team won here. Defeat to Spain at the weekend had raised questions and made this a night when victory was imperative. After an uncertain start, England came through with a degree of comfort.

It was a big night for Trent Alexander-Arnold – restored to the team for the first time since June 2025 – and he had a decent game.

With hindsight it was a perfect night for the Real Madrid full-back to re-emerge. England ended the game having had 66 per cent of the possession and just as much territory. Question marks about his defending at this level will have to wait for another occasion.

Indeed it was Alexander-Arnold’s lovely cross that bounced nicely for Anthony Gordon – England’s best player – to stoop and head in the first goal early in the second half. It was a significant moment as England had not been always convincing until then. From that point, it was a stroll and the surprise was that there was just one more goal, from Harry Kane with 20 minutes remaining.

England’s victory was, however, undoubtedly shaped by an incident in the 24th minute when Czech Republic midfielder Pavel Sulc was sent off for a rather lazy and late challenge on Elliot Anderson. ‘An early red card always has a heavy influence,’ conceded Tuchel afterwards. 

Up until that point, the Czechs had been in the game. From then on, they were not. It was pretty much that simple. The home team are going through a painful transition at the moment and had lost to Croatia here at the weekend. Their last win was in a World Cup warn-up against Guatemala and it may be a while before they experience another.

England, with Trevoh Chalobah winning his second cap as a replacement for the injured Ezri Konsa, had been a little uncertain early on, almost as though they were still shaking the memory of the Spain game from their minds.

But a Czech team asked to play for so long with one man fewer eventually ran out of gas and out of luck.

With Tuchel fielding a new central defensive partnership and the ninth different right back in England’s last 24 games, perhaps we shouldn’t have been surprised that there was some hesitancy once again in that department.

Early on, the home team broke quickly and regularly from their own half. England goalkeeper James Trafford was out quickly to foil Lukas Cerv before the same player volleyed wide from 18 yards. Then, soon after that, an Anderson slip let in Matej Radosta and his shot was blocked well by Chalobah.

Against this backdrop, England sought some control and though they were not always convincing, Morgan Rogers – playing ahead of the rested Jude Bellingham – turned to shoot against the far post in the 16th minute before Anderson and Bukayo Saka saw their follow ups come back from defenders in red.

The red card, when it came, was unnecessary. Suic was arguably not trying to hurt Anderson but his challenge was made on the stretch and had precious little control as studs made contact with Achilles. VAR was right to get involved and referee Umut Meler was right to upgrade from yellow to red.

Almost immediately the game changed. The Czech Republic retreated to the edge of their own penalty area and England’s puzzle was clear. How to break down a nine man defence.

For a while it was a challenge. Gordon ran one low cross right across the goal line while Kane was denied by Matej Kovar in the Czech goal.

At half-time England looked a little below the required levels. Happily that soon changed as Alexander-Arnold delivered a super and very familiar cross for Gordon to convert.

‘We never doubted that he can produce those moments,’ was Tuchel’s assessment.

With their game plan now out of the window, the Czech Republic were in trouble. Damage limitation wasn’t really an option and as spaces appeared, English players ran into them.

Indeed Lewis Hall almost scored his first England goal after the irrepressible Gordon set him up before a low Hall cross was poked on to the post by Rogers.

The Chelsea player was in the midst of it all again with 20 minutes left as he protected the ball with his back to goal in the area. That show of strength allowed Kane to run in and drive a low shot across Kovar and in.

With some breathing space established, Tuchel handed a debut to Bournemouth’s Alex Scott from the bench and a first competitive appearance to Liverpool teenager Rio Ngumoah.

Bellingham, meanwhile, came on for Kane and wore the captain’s armband.

A glimpse into the future, conceded Tuchel. ‘It shows that he could be captain one day,’ he said.