Czech Republic 0-0 England

2007 UEFA European Under-21 Championship
Gelredome, Arnhem
5.15pm (UK time), Monday 11 June 2007
Live on Sky Sports

A goalless 90 minutes saw England and the Czech Republic share the spoils in the opening game of Group B, and despite looking like it was heading that way for much of the match, a missed penalty three minutes from time will send England away frustrated.

It wasn’t the sparkling match that the build-up had promised. A quiet stadium, 9,382 fans inside, something England’s players aren’t used to, failed to energise the encounter, but when Czech skipper Roman Hubnik handled inside the box, England were thrown a glorious chance to take the three points.

David Nugent created the opening, lifting the ball over the heads of two defenders, before Hubnik’s raised hand stopped it happening again. Leroy Lita wanted to take the kick, and looked confident as he stepped up, but he dragged his shot wide.

Chances were at a premium during a first half that England just edged on points. And in a largely quiet forty five, the Three Lions were looking for some inspiration that would unlock the door.

The Czech defence looked unconvincing as they could only half clear balls in from Ashley Young and James Milner, but it just wouldn’t drop to a red shirted attacker.

But England were fortunate not to find themselves behind with nine minutes played. The Czechs carving out a glorious opportunity, Frantisek Rajtoral slipping through the defence to set up Jan Kysela, but his effort was well blocked by the legs of Scott Carson.

While England looked for a way through, the Czechs tried to exert some physical pressure, but it was English names that kept finding their way into the Hungarian referee’s book – one for Kieran Richardson for firing a loose ball at goal after Mr Szabo had blown for a foul.

Stuart Pearce’s side did have their chances though, Nigel Reo-Coker shooting over from the right hand side of the box, before David Nugent set-up this skipper again inside the area. This time, though, the skipper didn’t get his effort away in time as Michal Svec nipped in to clear.

Nugent had England’s first effort that tested ‘keeper Zdenek Zlamal, Milner knocked down a long ball forward into the feet of the stumbling Preston man, he managed to get the shot off, driving at a decent height for the save.

England needed to up the tempo, as they did against Slovakia on Tuesday night, and should have gone in front four minutes after the break. James Milner delivered a decent cross from the left which Nugent helped on with his head. But Richardson, unmarked at the far post, put his header wide.

Substitute Martin Fillo fired over from another Czech opening, then Daniel Pudil forced a fine save from Carson; an inswinging free-kick from the right which was tipped on the post by the Liverpool keeper.

Pearce changed his tactics and went to a 4-4-2 formation, bringing Lita into play for Milner.

Nugent made one chance for himself, turning on a poor Czech pass, before firing low with his left from 18 yards, but it went just wide.

He was now desperate to get on the score sheet, and tried a similar move with three minutes left, ending with Hubnik’s intervention. Nugent looked interested in the penalty, too, but Lita had the ball on the spot and stepped up to do as he had been doing in training this week. But it wasn’t to be.

The Teams

Czech Republic
1 Zdeněk Zlámal, 2 Josef Kaufman, 4 Roman Hubník, 6 Luboš Hušek, 7 Daniel Kolář (19 Martin Fillo, 18), 8 Tomáš Jirsák, 11 Daniel Pudil, 12 Michal Švec, 15 František Rajtoral (17 Jiří Kladrubský, 72), 18 Jan Kysela (22 Jan Blažek, 79), 21 Milan Kopic
Substitutes 3 Martin Latka, 5 Michal Kadlec, 9 Tomáš Krbeček, 10 Jan Holenda, 13 Martin Klein, 14 Michal Papadopulos, 16 Josef Kubásek, 20 Mario Holek, 23 Milan Švenger

Coach Ladislav Skorpil

England
1 Scott Carson, 2 Justin Hoyte, 3 Leighton Baines, 6 Gary Cahill, 7 Nigel Reo-Coker (c), 9 Kieran Richardson (12 Wayne Routledge, 57), 10 David Nugent, 11 Ashley Young, 15 James Milner (16 Leroy Lita, 64), 17 Tom Huddlestone (18 Mark Noble, 82), 20 Nedum Onuoha
Substitutes 13 Joe Hart, 14 Liam Rosenior, 19 Matthew Derbyshire, 21 James Vaughan, 22 Ben Alnwick, 23 Peter Whittingham

Coach Stuart Pearce

Kit Colours
Czech Republic White shirts, White shorts, White/Blue socks
Goalkeeper Green shirt, Black shorts, Black socks

England Red shirts, White shorts, Red socks
Goalkeeper Blue shirt, Blue shorts, Blue socks

Match Officials
Referee Zsolt Szabó (HUN)
Assistant Referees Tomislav Petrovic (CRO) and Anders Norrestrand (DEN)
Fourth Official Knut Kircher (GER)

TheFA.com Man of the Match Nigel Reo-Coker