Zdenek Ondrasek scored on his international debut as the Czech Republic handed England their first qualifying defeat in a decade on a disappointing night in Prague.
The Three Lions had gone 43 qualifying games in the World Cup and European Championships without tasting defeat, stretching back ten years, but they deservedly lost after a scratchy display in Prague.
Gareth Southgate's men enjoyed the perfect start as well, when Raheem Sterling's pace and quick feet won England a penalty, which Harry Kane dispatched for a fifth-minute lead.
Undeterred, Czech Republic came storming back and levelled before ten minutes had been played when Jakub Brabec stabbed home at the far post when England failed to clear a corner.
🥅 Not quite a Penanka but it is down the middle from Harry Kane...#EURO2020 | #CZEENG pic.twitter.com/fQ9Z5eAHZi
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC) October 11, 2019
From there the pattern remained the same with the hosts looking far more comfortable on the ball while England looked edgy in possession, toothless up front and, far more worryingly, extremely nervous at the back especially at set pieces.
It was more sloppy play out from the back that handed the Czechs the chance to win it five minutes from time, and they made no mistake as the Lukas Masopust cut-back was pinpoint and the Ondrasek finish clinical as he marked his international debut with the biggest goal of his career.
Ondrasek, a second half substitute, was making his international debut at the age of 30, and the FC Dallas man managed to score the winner against England with his first shot in international football.
No facet of England's game was working well in Prague. Their defensive problems were there for all to see and both goals could have been avoided, but the midfield lacked both creation and ball retention, while the front three of Kane, Sterling and Jadon Sancho were easily marshalled.
It may just have been one of those nights but Southgate will be hoping the quick turnaround to Monday's game in Bulgaria will help his side to produce a response to one of the worst performances under his largely positive tenure.
Ondrazek bags famous winner
🇨🇿👊🏴 Zdenek Ondrasek's first shot on goal for his country - at the age of 30 on his debut - ends England's 43-game unbeaten run in qualification games that stretched 10 years!pic.twitter.com/pOA1bKFjOW
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC) October 11, 2019
Czech Republic 2-1 England Opta stats
- England have lost a qualifying match (Euros/World Cup) for the first time since October 10th 2009, a 1-0 defeat to Ukraine, ending a sequence of 43 qualifying matches unbeaten (W34 D9).
- Czech Republic had 17 shots in this match, the most England have faced in a qualifying match since March 2013, when Montenegro had 19 in a World Cup qualifier.
- This was England’s first defeat in a European Championship qualifier since losing 3-2 at Wembley against Croatia in November 2007.
- Harry Kane has scored 20 goals in 21 matches for England when starting as captain – the only player with more is Vivian Woodward (23 goals between 1908 and 1911).
- Excluding shootouts, no player has scored more penalties for England than Harry Kane (9, level with Frank Lampard).
- Zdenek Ondrasek scored on his international debut for Czech Republic, scoring with his first shot in international football.
- Gareth Southgate (W21 D9 L8) has lost as many games as England manager in 38 matches as Roy Hodgson lost in 56 matches as manager (W33 D15 L8).
Czech Republic 2-1 England - As it happened
