EURO 2020 HALF TIME: Czech Republic 0-1 England. No added time, and England are 45 minutes away from a second-round showdown with the runners-up of Group F. More boos, presumably in reaction to this: Scotland have equalised against Croatia! Well, well. Now then. C’mon! Paul Doyle has all the details.
Kane sends a low, hard curler towards the bottom left. Vaclik sticks out a leg to block. The ball breaks to Sterling, though his back is turned and he doesn’t know. The England fans boo, thinking Sterling has downed tools, but he knows he’s well offside, and the flag goes up.
Walker works his way down the right and wins another England corner. They revive the old queue-up-and-scatter routine showcased at the 2018 World Cup. Celustka is wise to the grift and bangs clear.
A lull. “Anyone else wondering nervously what Germany might do to this England defence?” shudders Richard Hirst. Now Shaw shows up the other end of the park, sent into a little space down the left by Grealish. His low shot-cum-cross nearly squeaks in at the near post, having taken a little deflection en route. Vaclik tips it around the post, just in time.
The Czechs really should be level now. A deep cross from the left. Jankto shapes to scissor home. Shaw bravely stoops to stop him. The ball breaks to Soucek, free on the penalty spot. He tries to steer a first-time shot into the left-hand side of the goal. Pickford wasn’t getting there, but the ball flies wide. What a chance!
Saka works his way down the right to earn an England corner. Phillips swings it in. Coufal heads clear, and seconds later the ball’s back at the feet of Pickford. A smattering of boos.
Second half Awaits
