EUROPE: Euro
Date: 22-06-21
Time: 8:00 PM
Venue: Wembley Stadium (London)
With four Euro 2020 points to date, the Czech Republic need only a draw here at Wembley to progress as group winners, and do so for the third time in five Euro final appearances. A draw in Group D’s other finale (CRO v SCO) would see these sides lock out the top two regardless, but the group winner has the advantage of staying in London for the last 16.
The Czechs’ 1-1 result vs Croatia on matchday two marked the first competitive occasion since June 2017 (Norway, 1-1) to see them drop points after enjoying a HT lead, while it was also just the second occasion since that match to see them play out a stalemate (W22, D2, L17). The counter-attacking style they’ve adopted so far in this tournament might mean a cagey affair here against a goal-shy England, but you actually have to go back to 2014 to find the last time they drew two straight matches.
Despite a 0-0 draw with fierce rivals Scotland in their last game, England will steal top spot in Group D with a win, and add to a marginally positive ‘matchday three’ record going back to Euro 1980 (W4, D1, L3). The prospect of home advantage in the last 16 should inspire England, though they may have to wait for any reward – their last two ‘matchday three’ Euro games (W1, D1) yielded a 0-0 HT scoreline, as have their last four international matches this year.
That said, England have netted at least one first-half goal in all four historical H2Hs against the Czech Republic (W2, D1, L1), even in the 2-1 reversal in the most recent matchup in 2019. Yet since that loss, only two of England’s subsequent 18 games saw both teams score which adds to the spectre of a closely-fought, low-scoring group decider.
Players to watch: After being the first goalscorer vs both Scotland (42’) and Croatia (37’), Patrik Schick could become the first Czech to net in every group game at a Euro finals since Milan Baroš in 2004. However, Raheem Sterling memorably scored a hat-trick for England in the last H2H here, including a 61st-75th minute brace.
Recent Stats:
- Czech Republic’s form in last 5 matches: DWWLL.
- England’s form in last 5 matches: DWWWW.
PREDICTION: Home/Away
