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 made this a night when victory was imperative and, 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 night.

Indeed it was the full-back’s lovely cross that bounced nicely for Anthony Gordon – England’s best player – to stoop and head in early in the second half. There was to be one more goal after that, from Harry Kane with 20 minutes remaining.

England’s victory was, however, undoubtedly shaped by a moment in the 24th minute when Czech Republic midfielder Pavel Sulc was sent off for rather lazy and late challenge on Elliot Anderson.

Up until that point, the Czechs had been in the game.

Anthony Gordon’s superb display inspired England to a 2-1 win over Czech Republic in Prague

Harry Kane doubled England’s tally in the 69th minute with a sharp finish in the penalty box

England, with Trevoh Chalobah winning his second cap as a replacement for the injured Ezri Konsa, had been a little uncertain, 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. England scored two and could feasibly have had more.

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 uncertainty 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.

One of those two follow-ups should really have gone in. Saka perhaps was most culpable. Down the left flank soon after, meanwhile, the progressive Gordon curled a shot of his own across goal and wide.

The red card, when it came, was unnecessary. Sulc was arguably not trying to hurt Anderson but his challenge was made on the stretch and therefore had precious little control as studs made contact with Achilles. VAR was right to get involved and referee Umut Meler was subsequently 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. It was reminiscent of those games in the World Cup against Ghana and Panama. Tuchel’s players found it hard on both those occasions and so they did for a while here.

Gordon ran one low cross right across the goal line with Saka caught on his heels while Kane turned to deliver a shot towards the top corner in the 45th minute only for Matej Kovar to spring athletically to his left to save.

At half-time England looked and felt a little below the required levels. They had enjoyed 75 per cent of the possession only to do precious little with it. Happily that changed early in the second half as Alexander-Arnold delivered a super and very familiar cross that skipped off the turf for Gordon to stoop and convert.

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.

Trent Alexander-Arnold was given his chance by Thomas Tuchel after almost 500 days in exile

England’s task in Prague was made easier when Czechic Republic’s Pavel Sulc was sent off

Indeed Lewis Hall almost scored his first England goal after the irrepressible Gordon set him up – the shot rolling six inches the wrong side of the post – before a low Hall cross was poked on to the post by Rogers just after the hour.

Rogers 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 at the far post.

With some breathing space established, Tuchel handed a debut to Bournemouth’s Alex Scott and a first competitive appearance to Liverpool teenager Rio Ngumoah. Bellingham, meanwhile, came on for Kane and played through the middle. A glimpse into the future there, perhaps, but this was a required victory all about the here and now.