The Czech Republic top group D after a stunning win and a well-deserved draw. Whilst England are under fire from the media yet again with a lacklustre performance in which they were heavy favourites to take all three points against Scotland. Patrik Schick tops the Euro 2020 goal scoring list alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and will look to edge his team closer to another good result. Captain Harry Kane has failed to get off the mark in any way shape or form and will be itching to get the ball rolling again when they come up against the Czech’s. Let’s gain a little more insight into this key fixture in the group.
Euro 2020: Group D
Tuesday 22 June
Hampden Park
21:00
To Win
Czech Republic 58/10
Draw 5/2
England 6/10
Czech Republic
Of all four teams in group D, I feel the Czech Republic are the only nation performing as they should, and as expected. Key figures like Bayer Leverkusen’s Schick, and teammates Tomas Soucek and Vladimir Coufal have been showing their quality on the field.
Their overall performance as a team out did a washed-up Croatia, and they were unlucky to get caught by a quickly taken free kick which resulted in them sharing the points.
You can bank on Jaroslav Silhavy making sure the boys are switched on every single second of their next encounter.
Silhavy has had faith in his formation and made just one straightforward change which saw Tomas Holes replacing Spartak Moscow’s Alex Kral, for a little more experience in the holding midfield role.
England
Boos at the end of both the first and second halves against Scotland tell the tale of what England have been up to.
The English need just one point to secure qualification in group D, and they should fancy their chances against the Czechs. We have yet to see some of The Three Lions stars set foot on the pitch, and against the group leaders we may see a different approach from the English.
After Gareth Southgate switched up both left and right full backs against their British counterparts, it should be an indication to see something different in his next approach.
However, something in the English squad is not ‘clicking,’ and the fans, pundits, and experts can all speculate, but only Southgate and his boys can come up with the answer.
Prediction: Double Chance: Czech Republic or Draw (12/10)
The Czech’s will have a crack at the underperforming English and have a real chance at taking all three points, but how can you discredit the English? The Three Lions have every bit of quality and depth you could ask for in a squad, but that quality and depth is not forthcoming.
The Czech Republic are performing and based on performance I cannot discount the cohesion that Silhavy has brought to the Czechs.
Written by Joshua Gaillard