England break down stubborn Czechs for first Nations League win, Spain hammer Croatia 4-1

PRAGUE - Anthony Gordon and Harry Kane were on target again as England saw off a 10-man Czech Republic 2-0 to get their Nations League campaign up and running on Sept 29, while Lamine Yamal scored twice as World Cup winners Spain beat Croatia 4-1.

Thomas Tuchel’s side lost an entertaining opener 3-2 against Spain at Wembley on Sept 26, while the Czechs were beaten by Croatia.

The home side kept England at bay in the first half at Prague’s Fortuna Arena despite being a man down, but Gordon broke the deadlock shortly after the break and Kane gave England a cushion.

“Deserved victory,” said Tuchel.

“It’s strange to get an early red card. It’s not the best for the spectators, not the best for the team.

“It’s an awkward one, but we got an important win and that’s what counts.”

Tuchel made four changes to his starting line-up from the weekend, bringing in Real Madrid defender Trent Alexander-Arnold for his first start in almost two years.

England dominated possession early in the contest, but the home side had some bright moments on the break.

Morgan Rogers, in for Jude Bellingham, struck the post after a brilliant swivel in the box after 15 minutes before Elliot Anderson and Bukayo Saka were denied as the ball pinged around.

The game changed complexion in the 25th minute, when Lyon midfielder Pavel Sulc was sent off for a high challenge on Anderson.

He was initially given a yellow card, but Turkish referee Umut Meler upgraded it to a red following a VAR check.

The Czechs then switched into survival mode as England probed for openings around the box, but they struggled to create meaningful chances.

Captain Kane went close as the clock ticked into stoppage time at the end of the first half, but goalkeeper Matej Kovar pushed his curling shot wide.

The visitors finally broke the deadlock in the early moments of the second half when the lively Gordon headed Alexander-Arnold’s pinpoint cross back across Kovar and into the net.

“It’s always an honour and a pleasure to represent my country,” said Alexander-Arnold. “It’s been a long time, but I’ve always believed I can play for England.”

It was Gordon’s third goal in three games for England, including one against Argentina in the World Cup semi-final defeat and another against Spain.

Defender Lewis Hall came close to doubling England’s lead minutes later but skewed his shot just wide while Czech captain Ladislav Krejci inadvertently diverted a Hall cross onto his own woodwork.

Kane, who also scored against Spain, gave England breathing space midway through the second half, smashing the ball past Kovar after the ball fell to him in the box.

Tuchel made a number of changes and England had a flurry of other chances but Kovar kept the tally down.

The win takes England second in Group A3, three points behind Spain, who beat Croatia 4-1 in Seville in their first home game since lifting the World Cup.

Yamal, 19, was joined on the scoresheet by Marc Pubill and Nico Williams as they extended their unbeaten run to 40 matches, which includes June’s final triumph over Argentina in the United States.

Yamal’s contribution strengthened his case for the Ballon d’Or, with voting having closed on Sept 28 and the winner announced on Oct 26.

“We’ve enjoyed his magic in the service of the team. In the future, he’ll be much more recognised for what he does and for his contribution to the team’s play,” Spain coach Luis de la Fuente told Teledeporte.

Captain Rodri showed off the World Cup trophy before kick-off at the packed Estadio Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan, being handed it by Sevilla legend Jesus Navas, a winner with Spain in 2010.

“We were very excited to bring the trophy here,” Yamal said.

“To be able to win the game and bring it home is great.”

Attackers Yamal, Alex Baena and Mikel Oyarzabal started the game having scored in the thrilling 3-2 win over England at Wembley on Sept 26.

Croatia made six changes from the weekend’s win over the Czech Republic, leaving icon Luka Modric on the bench.

Yamal opened the scoring within two minutes against the Three Lions and took just 75 seconds to do so against Slaven Bilic’s side in Andalusia.

Just before the half-hour mark, the visitors equalised through Dion Beljo’s header as the 1.95m attacker headed home from an Ivan Perisic cross.

Two minutes later, the hosts restored their lead as Pubill fired home a header from a pin-point Yamal cross.

Just 45 seconds before the interval, the home side were denied a third goal by the post as Fermin Lopez failed to find the bottom corner.

Yamal claimed his second after 63 minutes, beating Barcelona team-mate and Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic at his near post.

The teenager’s second took his tally of international goals to 10 in 35 appearances.

With fewer than two minutes to play, Athletic Bilbao’s Williams notched up a fourth for Spain with a crisp dribble and finish.

“The first half could have ended 4-1 or 5-1, and the second half was more of the same,” de la Fuente said.

“We were up against a team that defends well and is strong in the air, so you have to be on your toes in every situation. But then we regained possession, our passing and control of the game.”

England travel to face Croatia on Oct 3, while the Czechs play Spain. AFP