The Czech Republic and England face off in their third and final group game of Euro 2020 on Tuesday night. The two sides are on four points in Group D, with the Czechs first on the table due to goal difference. Neither side may be keen on topping the group as the winner of Group D will have to face the runner-up of Group F, which could be one of France, Germany, or Portugal.
The second-placed side in Group D will face the second-placed side of Group E, which could be Sweden, Slovakia, or Spain – an easier draw, on paper. The Czech Republic and England faced each other the last time in 2019 where the former won the game 2-1.
Let’s take a look at 5 players to watch out for in the game between the Czech Republic and England.
Mason Mount
Mason Mount has been in splendid form for both club and country in recent months and was by far England’s best player in the draw against Scotland. The Chelsea midfielder’s driving runs and passing from midfield can cause some trouble to the Czech midfield. He also has the ability to get stuck in and make key tackles in midfield, which could be vital in counter-attacking situations.
Patrik Schick
Czech Republic striker Patrik Schick is the joint leading goalscorer of Euro 2020 with three goals. The 25-year-old scored a brace against Scotland – including a worldie from near the halfway line and a penalty against Croatia. The Bayer Leverkusen forward is tall, strong, and quick and could be a threat against the English backline, especially in the air. Schick will look to put pressure on the pairing of Stones and Mings and given his form, could well end up on the scoresheet for the third game in a row in the tournament.
Jack Grealish
Gareth Southgate may try something different in attack against the Czech Republic after their disappointing performance against Scotland. Aston Villa attacker Jack Grealish may get an opportunity and his clever passing and dribbling could open up the Czech defence. England have missed the cutting edge in the final third and need a player that can beat stubborn defences, which Grealish can certainly do.
Tomas Soucek
Tomas Soucek is a vital player for the Czechs as he offers strength, defensive acumen, as well as the ability to drive forward with the ball. The West Ham midfielder has the knack of getting into the box at the right time to score key goals for his side. Soucek is superb in the air, which could be a weapon that the Czechs could use against England, especially in set-piece situations.
Harry Kane
Gareth Southgate has confirmed that his captain and star striker Harry Kane will lead the line for England tomorrow. Kane has had a quiet tournament so far and hasn’t scored yet in the opening two games. He put in a sub-par performance against Scotland and was also substituted by Southgate. A world-class player like Harry Kane may not perform poorly three games in a row, and the Spurs forward could put in a good performance against the Czech Republic, especially if Southgate decides to play more attacking players around him.