Preview Of Euro 2020, Czech Vs England: Experimental Duel Haunted By COVID-19

England national team training session (Twitter @england)

JAKARTA - Apart from Billy Gilmore who was exposed to COVID-19 so he could not strengthen Scotland against Croatia and at the same time raised concerns about the pandemic, other equally exciting news in Group D is that the Czech Republic and England will definitely be in the last 16, regardless of the outcome of their match on Wednesday. in the morning at 02.00 WIB.

It happened because of the results of the last matches of Group B and C. England and Czech both have pocketed 4 points. This gain is greater than the third place in Groups B (Finland) and C (Ukraine) which both collected 3 points.

If the Czechs or England lose their match to finish in third place, their last point is still 4 points and this is above Finland and Ukraine. Four of the six third-placed in the Euro 2020 group stage have qualified for the Round of 16.

The position that is already safe seems to change the approach to play for the Czech Republic and especially England to play loose in their last match.

Monday's results mean the Czech national team will play in the #EURO2020 last 16 round no matter the result of the last Tuesday's match against England in Group D. #CZE ❤️ pic.twitter.com/UqfdQTMcBs

— Czech Football National Team (@ceskarepre_eng) June 21, 2021

England coach Gareth Southgate himself has been urged by observers and fans to change his squad to play a more positive, more attacking style of play.

Southgate could now be willing to meet the demands of installing a more offensive formation and fielding attacking-oriented players. Moreover, only by winning England can be in the last 16 with the status of Group D champions.

Before the results of the Group B and C matches, some thought that Southgate would budge from demands to change the playing pattern of his squad, which only won 1-0 over Croatia and drew 0-0 against Scotland.

England which has Harry Kane who is the top scorer of Euro 2020 qualifiers with 12 goals, only created one goal from his first two matches.

Kane was also the target of criticism for not scoring goals until he was urged not to be included in the first eleven players against the Czechs.

Southgate, who did not want to bow to the pressure of observers and fans, said he still installed the captain.

But now Southgate may be tempted to use more explosive players, including Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho and Aston Villa midfielder Jack Grealish.

"We've got some explosive players and a lot of them are young players who are just getting their first experience in a big tournament," Southgate said. "So as a coaching staff we are realistic about our expectations of them individually".

Jadon is at least an alternative to Raheem Sterling who has scored the only goal in the Euro 2020 group stage so far.

But what England fans were most looking forward to from Southgate was to bring in creative midfielder Jack Grealish from the start. Now Grealish's options are wide open after England are sure to be in the last 16. There's no harm in installing him because everything is secure.

The Czech Republic will also be tempted to carry out its own experiments because it is certain to be in the last 16.

Having only scored three goals and conceded one in the previous two games, coach Jaroslav Silhavy could send out attacking-oriented Czech players to serve England. If, England fielded a more explosive squad.

But assistant coach Jiri Chytry had expected England to come out attacking early on to secure full points at Wembley.

The Czechs have assessed how strong England is at the moment. "We expect to face a very strong England team that we have come to know later this year. They have a very balanced team filled with experienced and talented young players", said Chytry.

In essence, the Czechs are ready to serve whatever the British install. And their striker, Patrik Schick, is ready to score again after netting all the Czech goals in the first two games.

Together with Cristiano Ronaldo from Portugal, Romelu Lukaku from Belgium, and Georginio Wijnaldum from the Netherlands, Schick is the temporary top scorer in the Euro 2020 finals, with three goals each.

Stats of both teams

The Czechs won 2-0 against Scotland and drew 1-1 with Croatia in their first two Group D matches, while England won 1-0 over Croatia and drew 0-0 against Scotland.

The two teams met twice in Euro 2020 qualifiers. England won 5-0 at Wembley and won 1-0 at home to the Czechs thanks to an own goal by Tomas Kalas.

The 2-1 win at Eden Arena in Prague on 11 October 2019 was the Czechs' first win over England. England has lost just two of its 13 games against former Czechoslovakia.

The Czech Republic has always qualified for the Euro finals since breaking away from former Czechoslovakia in 1993.

The Czechs were Euro 1996 finalists, Euro 2004 semifinalists, and Euro 2012 quarter-finalists.

The Czech Republic had never beaten England at Wembley on four previous occasions, drawing 1 and losing 3 each.

This is England's tenth appearance in the European Cup finals. His best records are a Euro 1968 third-place finish and a 1996 semifinalist.

England top Group A of Euro 2020 qualifiers after winning seven of their eight matches to move six points clear of second-placed Czech Republic.

Harry Kane was the top scorer in qualifying with 12 goals, while Rahim Sterling was involved in half of England's total goals in qualifying (15 of 37 goals) with eight goals and seven assists.