England 1-2 Czech Republic

UEFA Friendly Tournament
Grodzisk Wielkopolski, Poznan
07 October 2005

England lost their opening match of the UEFA Friendly Tournament in Poland after they conceded two second half goals to a well-drilled Czech Republic side.

The tournament is taking place in the Poznan area and sees the three sides who have automatically qualified for the Second Round of European Championship qualification play each other.

England got off to a great start and carved out their first opportunity on 12 minutes when Mark Davies went close. The Wolves midfielder went through the centre of the Czech defence but was denied thanks to a good save from the goalkeeper.

After more good play from England, who looked assured at the back and creative in the centre of the pitch, they took the lead on the half hour mark through Chelsea's Jimmy Smith (above).

Lee Holmes showed great perseverance to get past his marker out on the right wing before delivering a cross into the feet of James Walker.

The Charlton forward set the ball back to Smith who rifled a left-foot shot into the top left corner, giving the Czech 'keeper no chance.

England could have taken more than a one goal lead into the half-time break, though some of their finishing was not quite clinical enough and that profligacy returned to haunt them after the Czechs launched a comeback.

They came out of the interval looking far sharper and eight minutes later they drew level when Jan Blazek hit a powerful shot from outside the area which deflected off an England defender past 'keeper Joe Lewis.

In the final ten minutes of the match things started to go wrong for Martin Hunter's side, who suffered threeblows in five hectic minutes.

On 81 minutes Middlesbrough defender David Wheater was sent off for a second bookable offence and then, from the resulting free kick, Blazek hit a direct shot past Lewis which again took a deflection on its way in.

Four minutes later England were down to nine men when Wheater's central defensive partner - Leeds United's Simon Walton - was also dismissed for picking up a second yellow card.

The Czechs kept on coming forward but in the final minute they were denied by a brilliant save from Lewis.

England 1-2 Czech Republic, UEFA Friendly Tournament, 07 October 2005

England: Joe Lewis - Norwich City, Billy Jones - Crewe Alexandra, Ben Parker - Leeds United, Gary Roberts - Crewe Alexandra, Simon Walton - Leeds United, David Wheater - Middlesbrough, Lee Holmes - Derby County, Mark Davies - Wolverhampton Wanderers (Anthony Grant, 16), James Walker - Charlton Athletic (Joe Garner - Blackburn Rovers, 57), Jimmy Smith - Chelsea (Michael Mancienne - Chelsea, 87), Adam Johnson - Middlesbrough (Myles Weston - Charlton Athletic, 80)
Subs not used: Nathan Ashton - Charlton Athletic, David Knight -Middlesbrough, Gavin Rothery - Leeds United

England Goals: Smith 30

Czech Republic Goals: Blazek 53, 82