England faces Czech Republic in Nations League; both seek redemption after opening losses

England will play the Czech Republic on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, at 20:45 local time (19:45 UTC) in a UEFA Nations League Group Stage match at Prague's Fortuna Arena. Both teams enter the fixture seeking their first points after opening-round defeats.

England lost 2-3 to Spain at home despite leading 2-1 at one point. Harry Kane missed a penalty that would have extended England's lead to 3-1 in the second half. The loss was particularly costly given England's strong attacking display and home advantage. Manager Thomas Tuchel's squad was weakened by the absence of several key players including Declan Rice, John Stones, Cole Palmer, and Jadon Sancho. Expected lineup changes include potential starts for Jordan Pickford in goal, Alexander-Arnold at right-back, and Hall on the left flank, with Branthwaite potentially replacing Konsa in central defense if Konsa is unavailable.

The Czech Republic suffered a 1-2 home defeat to Croatia in their opening match under new Spanish coach Santi Dénia, making his competitive debut as senior national team manager. The Czechs managed only five shots compared to Croatia's 16. The team will be missing key striker Patrik Schick, who retired from international football after the World Cup, and midfielder Tomáš Souček due to injury. Defender Vladimir Coufal is also unavailable, with Sáček replacing him. Despite these absences, the Czechs traditionally play aggressively at home but have struggled defensively against top opponents.

The match will be broadcast on Polsat Sport 2 with online streaming via Polsat Box Go. A promotional offer through STS provides three months of free access to Polsat Box Go's Sport Premium package for qualifying users in Poland. The game will also be shown on beIN Sports HD3 in select regions.

Both teams face significant motivation to respond: England seeks to regain control of the group after a disappointing loss despite dominating periods, while the Czech Republic must build momentum under their new manager's project. England remains favored based on squad quality, though playing away from home and managing fatigue from travel and emotional intensity presents challenges for Tuchel's side.