England conclude this newly-extended international break on Tuesday night when the Czech Republic visit Wembley in the Nations League. Here are some of the things to look out for:
A positive end to a never-ending window
This international break is the longest ever held during a season, and at times it’s certainly felt that way.
This match represents the fourth and final outing of a monster run of games. Many managers have spoken about how they aren’t sure whether it has been a positive, with drop-outs aplenty and so many matches shoehorned into the space of 11 or 12 days.
Indeed, England chief Tuchel has been one of the detractors insisting recently that he “didn’t like the start of it after a long tournament to have a long window. There are also positives to it like we saw against Croatia after having three matches together.
“The team is together for longer, more training sessions, more meetings, more of the same language. You see improvements and automatisms clicking in. We made it a very good camp.”
Despite the mixed response to the extended window, England have fared generally well. They earned plenty of plaudits during the narrow defeat to world champions Spain and tonight will be aiming for a strong finish as they look to make it three morale-boosting wins on the spin.
Kane’s big night
Tonight will see skipper Harry Kane draw level with Peter Shilton as England’s all-time men’s appearance-maker. It will be cap number 125 and given his importance to the team and the stellar form he finds himself in, it could be some number he tots up by the time he eventually calls it a day.
His international boss Tuchel, speaking on the eve of this game, hailed the talismanic 33-year-old: “I’m not sure I have any more words. He’s on the shortlist for the Ballon d’Or. We’ve spoken so often about him and I try to find new words which then make no sense.”
Flash Gordon
No England player has impressed more during this international break than Anthony Gordon. The winger seems to have grown in stature since his big-money summer move to Barcelona and is now one of the first names on Tuchel’s teamsheet.
Three goals and an assist during this camp is an excellent return and highlights Gordon’s growing importance. He’ll be itching to add to that tally against the Czechs before returning to domestic duties.
Dearth of midfield options
Before this camp began England saw both Declan Rice and Kobbie Mainoo withdraw from the squad through injury. That depleted Tuchel’s midfield and it took a further blow when Alex Scott then followed suit earlier this week, following a mightily impressive full debut in the hammering of Croatia. It means the engine room options are thin on the ground.
Elliot Anderson has started all three games so far in this camp and Tuchel may have been planning to give him the night off, but it may be a case of needs must aainst the Czechs. Myles Lewis-Skelly and James Garner are the only other options for the deeper-lying midfield places, although it would be a surprise if they were to both start given their relative international inexperience.
