Thomas Tuchel gets his lifeline as England make the most of Czech misery

Czech Republic 0-2 England (Sulc red card 25′ | Gordon 47′, Kane 69′) FORTUNA ARENA — Thomas Tuchel is on his final warning with many supporters. Despite claiming 99 per cent of fans he has spoken to since England’s heartbreaking World Cup exit have been positive, the reality is that many would have preferred to see the German leave rather than receive the FA’s backing. A defeat in a tricky Nations League tie in Prague would have made it three losses in four games. Tuchel would have been tossed off the Charles Bridge. Instead, he received an almighty helping hand from the officials in the Czech capital, while an uneventful victory and an elusive clean sheet were exactly what the under-pressure England coach needed. On a seismic day in English football because of events back home, supporters were blissfully unaware of Manchester City being banged to rights as they enjoyed plentiful Czech lager around Old Town Square in unseasonably warm late-September weather. It was one of those afternoons when some of the 1,024 travelling supporters may have thought long and hard about whether to bother with the match, given just how idyllic it was. Prague is home to the second-largest sporting arena ever built, the Great Strahov Stadium, with a colossal capacity of 250,000. It actually houses nine football pitches, so it is not quite suitable for competitive international football.The more compact Fortuna Arena, the site of West Ham’s most famous night, was instead selected. Its resemblance to a smaller St Mary’s Stadium is uncanny. Jude Bellingham was rested as Tuchel took a gamble on Morgan Rogers in a midfield three alongside Myles Lewis-Skelly. It looked like a somewhat churlish move early on as the visitors laboured through the opening exchanges. The Czech Republic had the better early chances, with their star man Pavel Sulc denied by a sharp James Trafford block on the edge of his penalty area. Sulc remained centre stage as one rather harsh VAR call irrevocably changed the course of the match. His challenge on Elliot Anderson after 25 minutes was upgraded from a yellow card to a red – one of those that looked much worse in slow motion. The fact it took until 68 seconds after the interval for England to break the deadlock is some cause for concern. Trent Alexander-Arnold, making his first England start in 716 days, provided the sublime cross for Anthony Gordon to head home. The Barcelona forward now has eight goal involvements in his last nine England games. Read more Opinion: Throw the book at Man City – and force the owners out Comment: England have two glaring weaknesses Thomas Tuchel desperately needs to fix Harry Kane’s 87th England goal, pouncing clinically on a loose ball, then put the game to bed. It is not an encounter that will live long in the memory for most, but Tuchel may savour this success in the years to come. Should he see his England project through, steadying moments are just as important as the swashbuckling successes. After the tumultuous end to the World Cup and defeat at home to Spain last time out, Tuchel could not have wished for a more satisfying evening in Prague.