England vs Czechia, International Friendly
· International FriendlyAbout
England are hosting Czechia
at Wembley, , , starting on
. The match is a part of the International Friendly.
Match Timeline
- 0': Join us at 2000 BST to see if John Terry can lead England to victory against the Czechs.
- 0': Good evening football-loving public and welcome to live coverage of England versus the Czech Republic with me Chris Murphy. Fabio Capello sends his side out to play their last non-competitive fixture for the forseeable future. Mind you, his next game is against Andorra. That should be pretty non-competitive eh?
- 0': Without further ado. England: James, Brown, A Cole, Ferdinand, Terry, Beckham, Barry, Lampard, Gerrard, Defoe and Rooney. Initial thoughts? That's a midfield full of central midfielders.
- 0': England can't wait for that first World Cup Qualifier on September 6th. Then, finally, they'll be off on the long road towards South Africa 2010, and not dwelling on a glorious summer of footy in the Euros. They know they should have been there, we know they should have been there, as does the rest of the continent. As for Scchhhteve McClaren, what does he know?
- 0': Yesschh, I know, the past is the past, but Fab's set-up appears little different to his predecessor's at present. John Terry is skipper, Becks is back, Heskey is included, plus the Gerrard/Lampard debate remains unresolved. Hopefully the Italian's stamp will become more apparent when the real deal begins eh?
- 0': England face a Czech Republic side who were largely disappointing in Austria and Switzerland. Yes they participated in the game of the tournament against Turkey, but they lost and were eliminated as a result. The usually unflappable Cech dropped a clanger, Jan Koller generally looked like a donkey who'd been made to piggy-back a mate up K2 twice, and they finished bottom of their group. The road to redemption starts here.
- 0': By the way, I shall bring you the Czech Republic's team just as soon as anyone can be bothered to tell us what it is. Amateurs eh?
- 0': This is a bit silly now. An extensive (alright, brief) scour of the web gives me no clue as to new Czech Republic coach, Petr Rada's first line-up. The new man replaced Karel Bruckner after Euro 2008, but I'm sure you already knew that.
- 0': Wahey! A mere ten minutes before kick-off, we have that elusive Czech Republic side: Cech, Grygera, Ujfalusi, Rozehnal, Jankulovski, Vlcek, Kovac, Polak, Plasil, Sirl and Baros. Subs from: Zitka, Kadlec, Pospech, Jarolim, Rajnoch, Papadopulos and Sverkos.
- 0': Who said computers don't get irony? I finally get the Czech team and my technology only publishes five of the names. Typical. Czech Republic: Cech, Grygera, Ujfalusi, Rozehnal, Jankulovski, Vlcek, Kovac, Polak, Plasil, Sirl and Baros. Subs: Zitka, Kadlec, Pospech, Jarolim, Rajnoch, Papadopulos and Sverkos.
- 0': Here come the teams to an over excited PA announcement, but only about 70,000 fans. Lots of empty seats knocking around. It's mid-August of course, the height of British summertime. So naturally, its wazzing it down.
- 1': Right. Enough blathering, we're underway...
- 2': First thing to mention is a new main camera angle at Wembley. Its lower. And rubbish.
- 3': John Terry's first involvement is a stray pass striaght to Plasil. Just to make him feel better Rio Ferdinand then gives the ball away too. Ahhh, how sweet.
- 5': Very little is happeneing. A spell of possession lasts for about five passes, then someone gives it away.
- 6': An incident! Robert Kovac slips and clatters into Rooney from behind. Free-kick but nothing more. Fair enough too.
- 7': Beckham's free kick is aimed at the skipper, Cech punches and Lampard's rushed lob falls well wide.
- 8': First chance of the game for the Czechs, Sirl's cross ricochets to Jankulovsky, who shanks his effort wide of the post.
- 9': England hit back with a fizzing shot from Gerrard that Cech parries away from danger. Lovely stuff from Rooney to switch play before Stevie G's effort.
- 10': A good interception from Lamps allows Rooney to feed him into space and though his early cross was half decent, only tiny ickle Defoe was in the box.
- 12': Now Barry goes in late on Plasil, who goes down in a heap, and the ref instantly produces a card. Ooh dear, booked in a friendly. Leave that one off the next CV you send it to Anfield Gareth.
- 14': England try to break after Jankulovski's free kick was cleared by Ferdinand but Defoe and Rooney get in a little muddle and the chance is spurned.
- 15': Nice work by his own corner flag from Ashley Cole. I said that through gritted teeth by the way.
- 16': Milan Baros! Remember him? Plasil's looped ball finds him in the area and he manages to get off a flicked half-volley which David James does very well to get down and save.
- 17': Stevie G marauds down the right, nips it past Ujfalusi and is brought down. Free kick right by the angle of box. You know who over it...
- 18': Dave, that was rubbish. Now we have a throw-in as the heavens really start to open.
- 19': Rooney and Gerrard swap some nice passes, but the end product isn't there. The Roonatic is dropping off as the playmaker, meaning only ickle Defoe is left in the box when someone eventually humps it in there.
- 20': Another neat passage of play from England involving Becks and Rooney, but again Defoe can't reach Gerrard's eventual cross.
- 22': GOAL! Baros scores, via a deflection off Ashley Cole!
- 22': That was a lovely move, Jankulovsky spreads it wide, Sirl gets past Brown easily, crosses and Baros manages to turn and shoot and the ball flicks off Ashley Cole and loops over David James.
- 23': That's Baros's first goal since DECEMBER. A total of 24 games. Most of them at Portsmouth. Oh dear Fabio.
- 25': No incision again from England. Rooney feeds Cole but his first instinct isn't to drive to the byline and cross. oh no. He cuts back inside, makes a mess of it, and the Czech Republic have a goal kick.
- 26': Finally some cutting edge! Neat passes in the final third are swapped between Cole, Rooney and Gerrard before Defoe's first time effort is comfortably saved by Cech. Better.
- 27': Czech Republic are on the breakaway with Sirl, when he cuts inside Lampard chops down Kovac and the visitors have a free kick.
- 29': Cech looks like he's got a little problem. The Czech team doctor is ambling round to have a chinwag with the big stopper.
- 30': Another glimmer of a break for England but this time Gerrard chooses the wrong ball. He's been our best player so far though.
- 31': Wes Brown turns in the first decent ball of the night but again Defoe is isolated. The only goal threat was Ujfalusi clearing over his own bar.
- 32': Cech flaps at Beckham's cross before Vlcek hacks clear, then from Beckham's second cross Rooney header is saved on the line. As Cech clears, Cole wins the ball back and Defoe rifles one in from distance. Cech is equal to it.
- 33': Vlcek streaks clear and ends up three on three. How, I'm not quite sure. That seemed very easy. He feeds Polak but his shot is wayward.
- 35': So, an England side lacking incision and vulnerable at the back. Sound familiar?
- 36': Gerrard wins a corner after a lovely diagonal pass from Brown. Cech comes and punches Beckham's ball in.
- 37': Rooney has a pop with the outside of his boot and though Cech smothers it, he looked far from commanding there.
- 38': That's more like it; a lovely ball from Gerrard, a clear sight of goal for Defoe and a good point blank save from Cech. Corner.
- 39': The Czechs bolt down field and Polak has acres of space to line up a shot. Barry gets in the way of it.
- 40': Steven Gerrard is running the show as far as England are concerned. He releases Beckham with a wonderful pass, then gets a return from Rooney. He shoots and Cech saves.
- 41': Beckham again lobs in a cross from 40 yards. Cech claims. Boring.
- 42': Defoe demonstrates he's got no left foot. Gerrard finds him in space but the Pompey striker wants to cut in on his right, but there's plenty of defenders there to crowd him out.
- 43': Plasil is in the wars again. Ashley Cole is the culprit this time. Free kick wide right.
- 44': That's rubbish from Jankulovski. Straight into James's arms. Defoe then wins a free kick in an identical spot in the Czech half.
- 45': GOAL! Wes Brown! Bullet header from Beckham corner.
- 45': How simple. A good near post corner, Brown beats Ujfalusi in the air and Cech has no chance. Half salvaged.
- 45': And that is half time. Well, good on ya Wes Brown. Your first England goal has saved Fabio Capello's team from a little show of dissent from the crowd I feel. Much to improve on in the second half though. See you in 15 minutes.
- 46': We begin again. Little is off (Defoe), large is on (Heskey).
- 47': An early mistake from Brown hands Polak a shooting chance which he takes, and it only flashed about a yard wide. Now Pospech flies down the right and squares for Polak, and Barry fouls him. Its all go!
- 48': GOAL! Jankulovski!
- 48': A belter. A cute curler right into the top corner. Two David James's wouldn't have saved it!
- 49': Heskey gets involved, beating a man before Beckham's cross is headed claer by Ujfalusi. Its all happening at the start of the second half!
- 50': By the way, Grygera, Vlcek and Baros have gone off for the Czechs. Zitka, Pospech and Jarolim (I think) have come on.
- 51': Rooney and Cole try to combine but it doesn't come off.
- 52': Excellent move from England, Gerrard at the hub again. Rooney finds Lamps, he slips in Stevie but he just can't get his shot off. Much better.
- 53': That's rubbish from Rio Ferdinand. He sprays a simple ball across the field three yards over Beckham's head and out for a throw.
- 54': Joe Cole is coming on. He's listening intently as Fabio points to a little whiteboard and presumably says: "Tell them all to play better."
- 55': Rooney slides in Heskey who makes a right mess of a shot on the turn. Very Wigan that, very Wigan. No offence like, but you know what I mean don't you?
- 57': Jarolim finds space and whacks one. It spears well wide.
- 58': Changes. Woodgate on for Ferdinand, and Steven Gerrard makes way for Joe Cole.
- 59': OH MY WORD! What on earth was David 'calamity' James doing? He charges 40 yards out of nets to challenge Plasil who had burst through down the left. Plasil took it round him, James gave chase, Cole covered the line and the Czech lad screwed his shot embarrassingly wide.
- 60': Jamo smiled widely after his huge gaffe, but Ray Clemence, Fabio and Stuart Pearce didn't seem to find it funny.
- 61': His defence didn't help him out by stopping when the ball came through - they thought Pospech was offside but had forgotten about Plasil - but why oh why come galloping out of your goal when he was so far wide? Ridiculous.
- 62': Ashley Cole has bought a free kick off Vlcek. Becks stands over it, by the corner flag.
- 63': That was poor, again. Flat, top the near post and easily cleared. they'll have to rename him copperballs at this rate.
- 64': Rooney throws his arms in the air in exasperation as another ball goes sailing over his head. This is not the confidence booster England wanted before a long World Cup qualifying campaign begins next month.
- 65': Woody's caught the wasteful bug, then nods away a cross that Jamo was heading out to get. It just ain't clicking at the minute.
- 67': We are told that Capello has fielded 30 players in his reign, Heskey being the latest. I wonder what he's learnt?
- 68': Oh dear James. He spills a scuffed shot from Plasil after the czechs got in far too easily yet again. Stewart Downing is coming on for Rooney.
- 69': An awful passage of play as Woodgate and Lampard get in each other's way, then Barry gives the ball straight to Kovac. It's all gone Pete Tong.
- 70': I should explain for our non-domestic traffic, that Pete Tong is rhyming slang for 'wrong'. He's an ageing DJ over here. Just so you know.
- 71': Heskey lays off to Beckham who crosses without a moment's thought. If he had stopped to ponder, he'd have realised the only man who had any hope of getting on the end of it was standing about three yards away from him.
- 72': Downing switches play to Becks, Joe Cole tries to play a one-two with Heskey and the move breaks down. Imagine my surprise.
- 73': Free kick. Beckham over it.
- 74': Beckham's delivery has been poop all night, and that was the worst. He fails to beat the first man. Again. Is he Charles N'Zogbia in disguise?
- 75': Now Becks is seeing the red mist. He clatters into Polak and concedes a free kick. Sirl is replaced by Kadlec. Kovac is also coming off, and Rajnoch is on.
- 77': You could hear a pin drop at Wembley right now. It sounds like all 69,000 people are in a light coma at the moment.
- 78': Beckham's corner falls to Rozenhal who boots Heskey instead. Both go down, but should be ok.
- 79': David Bentley is on for Lampard and presumably, Beckham, will switch inside. A chorus of boos greet the change, I think more for Lampard than anything.
- 80': Beckham will be going inside, but into the changing room because Jenas is on for him. A hero's reception for Becks though.
- 81': Bentley takes over corner duty and does marginally better but the Czech Republic still manage to clear easily.
- 82': The Czech Republic are sitting very deep now and soaking up the pressure. I say pressure, it isn't really. It's more a feeble wind.
- 83': Bentley crosses, Jenas lays off to Joe Cole but he is flagged offside.
- 85': Is there anything left in the tank? Our commentator contemplates what Steve McClaren is thinking if he's watching. Who chuffing cares?!
- 86': A moderately titilating run from David Bentley. Is now over. Its history. Forget about it.
- 87': Anderlecht's Jan Polak is voted man of the match. Quite rightly. He's been Mr Spritely. Sorry.
- 88': Brown pumps it long to Heskey, he wins the header but is penalised by the referee. The crowd boo as the PA announcer informs them of the man of the match.
- 89': Ooh! Heskey wins the header, Downing lines it up and volleys one five yards wide. I need a drink.
- 90': Wembley's band stifle a chorus of the national anthem when no-one, and I mean no-one, joins in. Very fitting.
- 90': Even the announcement of four minutues injury time is booed. Oooh, England are going to cop it at the final whistle.
- 92': GOAL! Cole taps in from close range!
- 92': England barely deserve it, but after a corner pings around the goalmouth touches from Heskey, Terry, then Cole send the ball towards the net. Cech can't hold and England have an equaliser.
- 93': Well, that might salvage a little pride but it shouldn't afford England any escape route from criticism. They've been toilet in this second half.
- 94': The whistle goes and the late goal means a dash more applause, rather than boos, sneaks through. Capello has had a poor night, and off the field news has leaked that Brian Barwick, chief exec at the FA will leave his job at the end of the year. Just another regular, turbulent, night as an England fan then eh? Thanks for your company, until next time.
Statistics
 CZE |
ENG |
|
|---|---|---|
| 15 | Fouls | 13 |
| 0 | Yellow Cards | 1 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
| 1 | Offsides | 1 |
| 0 | Corner Kicks | 9 |
| 12 | Saves | 3 |
| 41 | Possession | 59 |
| 10 | SHOTS | 12 |
| 5 | ON GOAL | 11 |
| 0.5 | On Target % | 0.9 |
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 0 |
| 0 | Penalty Kicks Taken | 0 |
| 6 | Accurate Passes | 8 |
| 6 | Passes | 8 |
| 0.0 | Pass Completion % | 0.0 |
| 0 | Accurate Crosses | 5 |
| 5 | Crosses | 31 |
| 0.0 | Cross % | 0.2 |
| 0 | Long Balls | 0 |
| 0 | Accurate Long Balls | 0 |
| 0.0 | Long Balls % | 0.0 |
| 5 | Blocked Shots | 1 |
| 0 | Effective Tackles | 0 |
| 0 | Tackles | 0 |
| 0.0 | Tackle % | 0.0 |
| 0 | Interceptions | 0 |
| 23 | Effective Clearances | 4 |
| 23 | Clearances | 4 |
Game Information
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: Wembley
Location: ,
Attendance: 69,738
Venue: Wembley
Location: ,
Attendance: 69,738
Line-Ups
England
| No. | Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | David James (GK) |
| 2 | Wes Brown |
| 5 | Rio Ferdinand |
| 6 | John Terry |
| 3 | Ashley Cole |
| 7 | David Beckham |
| 4 | Gareth Barry  |
| 8 | Frank Lampard |
| 10 | Steven Gerrard |
| 9 | Jermain Defoe |
| 11 | Wayne Rooney |
Czechia
| No. | Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Petr Cech (GK) |
| 2 | Zdenek Grygera |
| 21 | Tomas Ujfalusi |
| 22 | David Rozehnal |
| 6 | Marek Jankulovski |
| 5 | Radoslav Kovác |
| 11 | Stanislav Vlcek |
| 8 | Jan Polak |
| 20 | Jaroslav Plasil |
| 17 | Radek Shirl |
| 15 | Milan Baros |
Men's International Friendly News
McKenzie addresses AFCON final backlash
South Africa's Minister of Sport, Gayton McKenzie, praises Morocco's hosting of AFCON 2025 despite the chaos surrounding the final.
Emma Hayes credits leadership of Trinity Rodman, Claire Hutton
USWNT manager Emma Hayes talks about Trinity Rodman embracing the captaincy role and adds that Claire Hutton is a captain in the making.
Mile Jedinak joins Socceroos staff ahead of 2026 World Cup
Former Socceroos captain Mile Jedinak has joined Tony Popovic's staff, Football Australia confirmed on Tuesday, while adding that Cameroon, Curacao and China will all head Down Under a four-nation friendly series ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Can Tunisia cause an upset in Group F?
Ed Dove discusses Tunisia's chances of progression from Group F as they face tough opponents Japan, The Netherlands and a UEFA play off winner.
Do South Africa have reasons to be optimistic after World Cup draw?
ESPN South Africa correspondent Leonard Solm discusses South Africa's chances of going further then they have before at the World Cup.