Football Daily - England beat Czech Republic - 5 Live Reaction

Episode Date: September 29, 2026

Kelly Somers is joined by former England internationals Paul Robinson and Stephen Warnock to react to England’s Nations League win over the Czech Republic, where Anthony Gordon got the opener with Harry Kane getting the second. The guys dissect England’s performance – and discuss how important it was to keep a clean sheet. Anthony Gordon was hailed the player of the match by Paul Robinson and they look at where improvements could be made in the team. The chat also turns to Trent Alexander-Arnold who made his first start for his country in two years. They hear from Alex Scott, who made his debut for England as well as captain Harry Kane too. Even Thomas Tuchel pops up on the pod for a chat with John Murray! On Saturday England take on Croatia away in the Nations League, commentary on 5 live from 5pm.Timecodes: 10:00 – Anthony Gordon focus. 14:10 – Alex Scott interview. 19:00 – Harry Kane interview. 25:45 – Thomas Tuchel interview.

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Okay, well England has beaten the Czech Republic. My two goals to nil, Anthony Gordon getting the opener, with Harry Kane getting the second. With us is former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson and the ex-England defender, Stephen Warnock. Good evening to you firstly. Stephen, do you agree with what Paul Robinson said on commentary routine? I think so. I think it was quite easy.

Obviously, it's difficult when the Czech Republic go down to 10 men. They sit in, they make life difficult for you. There's not really many spaces to pick the passes through. But I think the most important thing tonight was being patient and finding a solution. And I think getting the early goal in the second half always helped that. But yeah, it was relatively an easy night,

but it could have been so tricky. Yeah, Paul, it kind of followed what you said, hoped it would follow at half time, didn't you? You said that they needed to get the early goal. They needed to show more attacking intent, and that's kind of exactly how that second half played out, really. And you could see that was the message that Thomas Tupel had given them at half time in the dressing room

because immediately they started on the front foot. And I think him making that change, changes the mindset of the team as well. Yes, they were attacking and for large parts of the first half, they had over 75% of the possession, camped in the final 25 yards of the pitch, but they just couldn't unlock the door.

It was slow at times, it was methodical at times, and that's exactly what he said at half time, move the ball quicker, and with him bringing Eze on, at times him and Morgan Rogers occupied a similar type of space as the second half progressed,

but that first goal, so early on in the second half, immediately changed the mentality of the England team, and they made it easy for themselves. Yeah, and that's maybe what they didn't do at times. Well, we saw it, didn't we, at the World Cup, Stephen, when they couldn't break these teams down, got frustrated. And then, whereas at least they got themselves in a lead to almost hold on to tonight.

They had something to protect. Yeah, absolutely. It's just difficult when you're going up against teams who know if they go toe-to-to-to-to-again. It's going to be very difficult, and they can't do that. So ultimately, when you're a top team in world football, teams are going to sit back, they're going to defend. It's very difficult to break down. I mean, Robo have done this many times.

on a training ground where you play attack versus defense and there's only six defenders in place and it's the back four and two midfielders. And more often than not, the attacking team can't break them down because they're not disjointed, they're not out of place and that's very difficult when you've got extra players in that situation.

All you're hoping for is, and then it sounds daft, you're hoping that they actually have a couple of counterattacks which drags players out of position and then that'll afford you little spaces in behind to exploit them. And yeah, I think the ball was moved quicker in the second half. I think that's the one thing you've got to do is you've got to commit players out of positions

and try and bring them out, which will then create space for other players. And I thought England did that well in the second half. And we need to give Thomas Tugel some credit, don't me, Stephen, as well, because there was a lot of said, obviously, what happened against Argentina. But if you look back to the opening game against Croatia in the World Cup, we spoke a lot about what he changed at half time. He didn't quite have the same effect tonight in a different level of game, of course. but he made changes in whatever he said worked.

Yeah, 100%. I think Thomas Tuchel, whether he admits it or not, and he is quite a stubborn guy, he probably will know in the back of his mind he made mistakes against Argentina, but people deserve a second chance to try and correct that. And I think it was, obviously, it was his first major tournament

as a manager in international football. And I think he has to be braver at times. I think there's times where you do have to defend, i.e. away in Mexico when you are down to 10 men, it's a little bit different. But when you're playing Argentina and you're a goal up and suddenly you start retreating and defend it's a different type of game. When you've got you're playing against 10 men yourselves, then you've got to be proactive and put attacking players onto the pitch. And he did that tonight. So he's got that opportunity to learn to grow as a manager and he will continue to do that.

I think deep down in the back of his own mind and his staff's minds as well, they know they probably could have done better throughout the world. Cup at times and especially in that Argentina game. But hopefully this is the year that, or this is the time now leading into the Euros when he puts that right and we go into the Euros in a great place. Yeah, certainly hope so. You two loved a clean sheet in your playing days. Did you see us play?

I was going to say, you've got the wrong people on here. Especially when we're together. Well, you try. Good luck to try out. That's the right words, Kelly. Okay, well, you tried to get clean sheets during your careers. I was trying to be nice. Then that's what England got tonight.

How important is that, Paul? It's hugely important. I mean, they've been so porous in recent games. I mean, they conceded 12 goals in eight games at the World Cup and the recent record, you know, the amount of goals that they've conceded. Granted, there was the France game in that stat as well, but they've not kept a clean sheet for six straight games conceding 13 goals. So it was important tonight that they did keep a clean sheet,

especially against the 10 men. And when James Trafford was so under-employed, it's about concentration. and we've seen the goals that England have conceded of late. Most recently the Spain game, they're individual errors and there are goals that were avoidable. So defensively for England, the question marks were asked. And that will please Thomas Tuchel as much as it will please him

to get the three points and the goals at the other end. The defensive performance, yes, it was easy and yes, they were against 10 men, but about the concentration and the way that they applied themselves, the clean sheet was an absolute must this evening. And it's possibly one of the easiest ones that James Trafford will get, but it's an important one for him and the team. was a few moments in the first 15 minutes or so where when Trent, I think it was the throwing on the far side

or Chalibah put it into Trent Alexander Arnold, he loses the challenge and they break. You think maybe a better team capitalises on that. There was the Elliot Anderson one where he lets it go under his foot. And I'm thinking, if that's Spain, do we get punished? I don't think you can afford to make those mistakes. And against a better team, this is a Czech team that was very, very average at the World Cup and a team that's almost in that transitional phase where they're trying to,

to play a different type of football, but there's still a still growing and getting used to it. A better team would have punished England with those couple of opportunities. So I think as much as we were comfortable when we went down to 10 men, I still think there's elements where there's just a few lapses of concentration. And I know you're going to ask Robo about James Trafford's game tonight and how he played. I thought the save you made where he came out and smothered the striker when he went through was a great save and a brave save. Yeah, I think his depth perception is something that I like because he played.

England player high line and he's reading of the through ball is very, very good and that's very difficult as a goalkeeper. It's probably the hardest ball on the field to read and actually he didn't get sucked in too close to the ball

that save that he made in the first half. And in the second half, it was interesting as well because the one attack that they did have the checks, they were three on three. The striker chose to take on the shot from 25 yards

and actually he realizes that he's not done anything for the whole game, James Trafford and he doesn't take any risks with it. He doesn't try and make a catch where he leaves himself potentially open for an error. He puts two solid hands

behind it and pushes it out the danger area. It was a simple performance, but it was simple and effective, and he made it as simple as he could. What about Trent Alexander Arnold, Stephen? Because he got the assist, and there was a lot made of the line-up when it came out, the fact that he was back in there, and the fact that maybe he had a bit of a point to prove tonight.

Well, he does have a point to prove because he's like any other player wanting to play for his country, and that's understandable. My big thing is with Trent Alexander Arnold, is that essentially he's, better as an inverted fullback. In the first half, they wanted him really high and wide. And there was times where he was beyond Saka.

And I'm thinking, that's just not his game at all. He wants to isolate Sacker in a 1v1 situation and drop a little bit further inside. So that when that ball does come back to him, he's got a view of the pitch and we saw the quality of ball that he puts him for the goal. We know he's capable of that. I think playing him on the touchline is just not his game at all. I think it's a little bit different with Lewis Hall on the left-hand side because he loves to overlap

whereas Trent doesn't want to really overlap he wants to just back the game up and he wants to back his winger up and I think that also helps for Kai Osaka as well because he wants to be isolated in a 1V1 situation and then if he's smart enough and thinks you know what I'm getting doubled up well where's my free player? It's Trent Alexander Arnold

who's going to be in five yards of space well you give a player of that quality time and space he's going to pick quality balls or he's going to pick at least one in the game and we saw that for the goal. And these are the type of games, sorry Kelly, that the manager will utilise him in because defensive responsibilities

are not going to be too taxing. I think if we're playing against better opposition with no disrespect meant anywhere, where there's more of a defensive role for him, he's going to get asked to tuck in and make it narrow and his defensive responsibilities are going to outweigh his offensive actions. I think those are the type of games where the

question marks from Thomas Tuchel, from Jose Marina is club manager because like John said in commentary, he plays Denzel Dunferreste, instead of Trent Alexander Arnold and he deploys him in a higher role. So I think against lesser opposition, you can get away with playing and because of his qualities in the final third

in the opposition's half. But defensively, I still don't think that managers trust him. So do you think almost he actually gives England another option or maybe option just for certain games then, Stephen? Yeah, quite possibly. I think when you're playing against the team

that's sat deep and hard to break down, how often do we see it with Liverpool when he was there that you just see this killer pass out of nowhere and you'd be like wow no one else can hit that pass I mean I've likened him to Kevin de Breiner

he's one of the only players you can match DeBroner's level of passing and that's from a right back position which is very very rare but he is that type of player and you've got to be patient with him you've got to over cover him at times and that's part and parcel of it

but when you're a player within that team and you know the qualities that he's got you're happy to do it. that because you think, well, this is a game changer. This is a player who can pick the past that perhaps no one else on the pitch can pick. Maybe that's what Thomas Tukal will have seen tonight in that moment. And now it's a good headache maybe for him to have how he can maybe utilize him in certain situations. A very good problem for Thomas Tuccoe at the moment is the former Anthony Gordon, isn't it? Paul, you described him as the best player on the pitch tonight. Again, and I think he was against Spain. I just think the confidence that he's got, you know, people raised a couple of eyebrows when he went to Barstaffir. for the money that he did.

Marcus Rashford came back to Manchester United, but the way that Anthony Gordon started the season, like I said, before the start of this game, he had a goal or an assist every 66 minutes in his last five internationals. So that shows what a key part of this England team that he's become. That left-hand side, there was a question mark

over who was going to play there. But I think in the World Cup, we saw Anthony Gordon take it to a different level. And I think there's certain parts or certain games in the World Cup where he was substituted, and he shouldn't have been. I think others should have come off instead of him,

because the ability to run in behind and the legs that he's got, and I've said it so many times, he's a winger that plays with the opposite foot on the opposite side, but he doesn't always come inside. He's quite capable, and he does it so often of going around the outside of his fullback on his left foot. So once he's done that once, and he's cut inside a couple of times, he's got the fullback on toast because he doesn't know which way that he's going to go.

And Anthony Gordon, full of confidence, running at pace like he does, he can go either way, and he's causing fullbacks all kinds of problems, and he's picking his goals, and he's picking his spaces in the 18-yard box. I'm sure you guys heard his comments this week where he said maybe now he's being appreciated. Maybe when he was over here, we just used to talk a lot more about his pace,

but maybe we're appreciating him more technically now. Stephen, I also wonder what you made of his development and the way he's maybe evolved since becoming a Barcelona player. I think he will evolve and I think he will change purely because of the way that the tactics are in Spain. I think you'll learn from the players. I think what he's already shown in the games, that I've seen him play for Barcelona

and also in a couple of games that I've seen him play for England since he's being a Barcelona player and being in and around the team. Not the World Cup, this camp now. He's more efficient with his running. He knows when to run, how to run, when to press, when not to press.

I think at times, when he was in Newcastle, it was just press at every single opportunity and he'd get to around about 50, 60 minutes and it was almost like he's running on empty. He will run to the 90th minute, but not at the high level that he can, can and not at the sensible level. And I think both on and off the ball,

I think we'll see a more mature player. He is a clever player. He's a very smart guy intellectually. So he has got a decent IQ on the football pitch. I think he's shown that in the short time at Barcelona. Hopefully it'll be better for England in years to come because we'll see a better Anthony Gordon. But I also think his performance tonight was better, arguably, than against Spain.

because in the first 15 minutes he just didn't have it his way in the game tonight and again he was patient but I also think that relationship with Lewis Hall is key I think they know each other inside out and I think Lewis Hall knows when to overlap him he knows when to underlap he knows when to sit and wait

and I think that's vitally important that relationship going forward yeah attempted more shots in this match than any other player on the pit your sales order says one thing your inventory says another Your spreadsheet says, good luck. Odu brings your business together on a single platform,

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Assistant manager of Sunday League powerhouses, the Royal Oak, and I'm back in changing room at Royal Oak for a new season of Games Gone, the podcast that takes you back to the grassroots of the game. With my colleague Paul Sampson and Bob the Bucky, and this season we're aiming for promotion to Division D of the Sheffield Sunday Imperial League. Games Gone, the Steve Bracknell podcast. Listen on BBC Sounds. You're listening to the Football Day.

Daily podcast with Kelly Summers. Here's Alex Scott with John Murray. Yes, now an interview, the type of which football should be all about, because Alex Scott has made his debut here in Prague, and I guess it'll always be a very special place for you. Yeah, of course, I'll always remember this place now. England debut, it's nice, what dreams are made of, and something that probably when I was younger and maybe even 15, 16,

wasn't a reality at all. so I've worked really hard and it's a proud moment for me of course and my family as all how did you feel when Thomas Tuchel beckoned you across to go on yeah I couldn't wait to be fair yeah I had no nerves at all really

I've said I was more nervous for the speech to the lads after the game but yeah I was just obviously happy to get my opportunity I've been on a few camps now I know the boys pretty well staff as well so yeah it was great for me to finally get on the pitch itching for the moment to come

yeah that's pretty much it like I said I had a chance last November and then obviously in the summer as well before the World Cup. And yeah, I just couldn't wait to get on the pitch today. You know, it's felt like a long time coming. And yeah, I'm really happy to make my debut. The lads have been brilliant and the staff as well. So it's a great group to be a part of.

There was a moment there where it looked at might open up for you to score on your debut. Yeah, that was something I thought. Just go out and enjoy it. You know, you only make your England debut once. So I didn't want to just keep it safe and keep passing it around. You know, I wanted to get up the ball and show what I can do. and that's the strength of mind is dribbling and then breaking lines with a dribble

and it just sort of opened up massively and I was off balance a little bit so I don't know where the shot actually went I haven't seen it but yeah it was nice to get an opportunity and yeah hopefully I took it. So what did you say in your speech to the others? I'm sure you'll see it later.

Obviously thank the players for making it as easy as possible and the staff as well for the opportunity and mentioned a little bit about some of the lads in there I've played in the youth team with so it's nice to be on the pitch with them with the seniors.

Yeah who are the, when you think think, you know, who will this mean most to beyond yourself? Who are the names that come straight into your mind? My partner, for sure. She's been there with me for a good six years now, so she's seen everything. My parents, obviously, massive for me, my brother, growing up, like I said, playing football non-stop. And yeah, my granddad passed away last week, so for him, obviously, a special thing. It's a shame he didn't see it, but, yeah, he would have been looking down and I'm proud of that one. That must make it emotional for you. Yeah, it was tough. It was tough last week.

I found out on camp just before the Spain game. He was the proudest man. He came to all my matches, well, whenever he could. And, yeah, he was my biggest fan. So, like I said, he'd be up there watching and super proud of me. Have they given you the cap? There it is. So you won number?

1-301. Forever? Yeah, again, I remember that forever. I know some of the lads have it tattooed on them as well, so it's something to think about. Yeah, proud, proud night. For sure. Very fun.

Well, well done, Alex. Nice to talk you. Thank you. A word on him, Paul, because there's been a lot said about him in recent weeks in terms of transfers and how well he's been doing at Bournemouth. Does it look like he's adapting on the international stage as well? Yeah, I mean, he's still only only only going to be a matter of time in this international break because it's so long that he was going to get his opportunity. And I think he came on tonight in a game that was very open. And it was a nice game to come on to, in all honesty.

The team winning comfortably, dominating possession. And it's just the type of game that was ideal for me. plenty of space in the middle of the midfield. He ventured forward once. He nearly scored, actually. He took it from inside his own half, played a lovely one, two, got to the edge of the box, curled one just wide of the top left-hand corner.

And the biggest compliment you can say, he didn't look out of place and he fitted in. I guess maybe the only frustration, if we are going to pick it apart a little bit more, Stephen, is that we probably still want to see more goals from England, don't we? Particularly when they're planning against a team down to 10 men. Yeah, but it's very difficult, Kelly.

And I think that the problem is, is that we're talking about international football here. These are all the best players at all the clubs that come together. And as much as Czech Republic are in a very difficult situation when they're down to 10 men, they're in front of their own crowd, they're going to be organised, they're going to be tough to play against.

And they were exactly that. They're not going to be too adventurous because what they don't want to be is they don't want to be the team that England's stuff five past. They want to be the team that was difficult to play against, organized, and can see progression under the, the new manager. And I think they're probably happy with what they've seen in the last couple of games

against Croatia and then tonight against England. So, yeah, we want more goals, but you've got to respect the opposition as well. And you've got to understand that international goals are very, very difficult to come by. Okay, well, one man who never struggles with goals is Harry Kane, three goals in four matches for the England captain. He's with John Murray. Yes, thank you very much, Kelly. Harry Kane is he a job done tonight, Harry, yeah?

Yeah, job done, professional performance. Yeah, it wasn't the most exciting game of football, but sometimes you just have to do what you need to do, and we've done that. We never really looked in fret. We finished the game off when we had to, and I think, you know, coming off the back of a really tough game on Saturday, you could see it maybe in a bit of the tempo

and a bit of the legs of some of the lads, and you still have to be careful. You still have to be professional and win the game, good clean sheet, and we take it into the next one. Yeah, the big turning point at the weekend, with your penalty, turning point when Schultz was sent off in the first half. That really changed the game, didn't it?

Yeah, sometimes when, especially a team who likes to defend anyway, get a man sent off, it becomes even tougher because they defend with 10 men and they're just looking for the counterattacks. So you have to be really patient. We said in the first half, we was moving the ball a bit too slow, taking too many touches, I think, especially against 10, you have to move it quick, get it out wide, open the space, and then as they tire, the spaces will open up. And we come out in the second half with more intensity and obviously getting the goal straightaway

helped. we finish the game off nicely. Obviously nice for me to get back on the score sheet and see the game up. With Spain winning as well tonight, do you kind of have the suspicion that if you're going to win this group, you might have to win all of the matches left? I'd say so. When you look at Spain's record over the last years, that seems to be the case, but that's nothing we're afraid to try and do.

We have another tough game away from home on Saturday. It's a big match in terms of the group and where we lie. and if we win that, we'll be in a great position going into next week and then obviously November as well. So, yeah, important one for now, it's just about recovery. I think a lot of the lads are put in a lot of effort. I think pretty much every outfield player has had some minutes so far in this camp and that's good as well.

So we're going to need everyone again to be fresh and sharp for Saturday's match. Anthony Gordon looks as though he's really stepped on after a move to a giant club. You know, you know that feeling. It really seems to have lifted his game again, doesn't it? Yeah, for sure. I think sometimes it gives you that confidence. It gives you that belief.

Even though you have self-belief, it gives you even more belief that you belong at the highest level. And I think he's showing that both for Barcelona and for England. His performances, the last couple of games have been some of his best. He's played in an England shirt.

And I think he's just relishing, putting a shirt on, being one of the main men in the team. And again, today he was the guy making a difference, making it really difficult for them. And we're going to need him. He's an important player for us.

He showed that in the World Cup and also so far in this camp. So yeah, for him especially, recover well and getting ready for Saturday. As you can imagine, Harry, we've been talking a lot about Manchester City today. As the England captain with Mark Gaye and Elliot Anderson in the team,

did you have to do a bit of captaincy there with an arm around the shoulder? No, to be honest today, I didn't even know the news, literally until after the game now. I've just been told I've been off my phone all day. So I can't comment on it now. I'm sure over the next days,

it'll be spoke about in a casual way, but nothing. I always say when we're here, we're at England. We have our England head-on and those guys will deal with it obviously when they're back. From our point of view, it's just about Croatia on Saturday. Thanks, Harry. Well done tonight. Thank you very much. Kelly. Thank you very much, John. The England

captain there with John Murray after that win and his goal, of course, against the Czech Republic. We should also mention that, really, Stephen, given the news coming out about Manchester City this evening. We speculated over whether it would affect City's players playing tonight. Did you see any signs of that? I'm not totally sure I believe Harry came when he says that he didn't know and the players weren't really aware.

Yeah, I'm sure the players will have been aware, but I'm sure he just does want to get brought into talking about the subject. Yeah, totally understandable. It's not something that he has to deal with. It's at another football club. I think from the England players' point of view, it's they'll have got the game on the way tonight and then they'll have looked at that situation and spoken to agents, representatives of the club to see where the land lies and what's about to happen or what could happen.

but essentially you're just focusing on your game tonight because you're playing for your country, you're out of that environment at the moment. But it'll definitely be on the player's minds. They'll definitely be wondering what the future of the club might look like, where it could be. Yeah, it's going to be an interesting time for those players.

Yeah, it is indeed. And I'm sure they'll be being protected. They'll be being asked about it in the coming days as well. As for England overall, I thought it was interesting. Harry Kane mentioned the word intensity, Paul and it was something, I guess when I asked before about do we just want to see more goals from England against teams when they've got down to 10 men? Maybe it's not the goals. Maybe it's just the intent and the intensity that we want to see more of. The performance level. I think that's what it is in all honesty. And I think we saw that against Spain. You know, we came up against the side that were better than us. But we actually had a go at them. You know, we went down swinging. Yes, our defensive frailties were exposed. But the performance level and the style of play that England adopted, they didn't try and defend. to defend weaknesses. They didn't try and sit back in a low block because they were respectful of Spain.

They tried to get in their faces and they tried to go and win a football match. And every time that we see an England team on the pitch from Thomas Tuchel's point of view, I think we want to see this England side with a set their stall out to go and win a game, not just to defend. I mean, we've talked, we've done it so many times, the Argentina game, and how defensive they were and how different they were in the Croatia game in the first game. And after that game, we all thought this is brilliant, this is what we want. And regardless of what Thomas Tuckel says in his press conference pre-Nations League, I don't believe that he's not learned lessons from what happened in the World Cup

because we've heard players come out after the Spain game and the word put your foot on the throat, you know, be more clinical and go for the throat. That's something that the manager's been saying in the dressing room. And subconsciously as a player, you actually absorb that. And that's come out a number of times in interviews through different players. It's like the pounded in the rock that they said at the World Cup, wasn't it? Because Tuchel used to say pound the rock to them. And it seems like that going to the throat is the one that he's saying to them.

Paul. And that's the message in the dressing room and that's what they're absorbing. And because that's the message the manager's giving them, whether you know, whether you listen or not, but subconsciously you're taking it in. And that's coming out from different players. So we can see from that statement alone that he wants the intensity, you want them to play at this Premier League level. He wants them to take the Premier League to an international stage, which is what he's always said, but he didn't deliver that in the World Cup. In the game against Spain, we saw a lot more of it. Granted, the intensity wasn't there tonight as much as we would have liked, because it was a fairly easy game at times.

They didn't need to do that. After the first goal went in, they played very, very well within themselves. But that's exactly what he means. He wants that tempo and he wants that level of performance. Well, thank you very much. Don't go anywhere, Paul, but thank you to you, Stephen, for joining us

for this post-match reaction. We'll speak to you on Five Live very soon, but for now, John Murray is joined by the England manager, Thomas Tuchel. Yes, the England manager is with us with the job done tonight, Thomas. Exactly. Yeah, we played a professional. second half, stepped up in urgency and more dynamic movements on the side, a bit of quicker

play, a bit of better ball speed, a bit sharper everything and deserved to win the second half. Of course, with the red card, we became the heavy, heavy favorites, sometimes not easy, but it was professional performance. We never let go in counter-pressing and in high ballwinds, so, yeah, like you said, job done. And that clean sheet you wanted as well? Yeah, of course. It's always important, gives everyone a good feeling. We had some to overcome some moments, some good defending in the first 15, 20 minutes,

was needed even until the end to block some shots. Always things to improve, but overall a serious performance, a professional performance and a deserved win. The supporters of Trent Alexander Arnold finally got what they wanted to see him in your starting lineup. How did you think he did? He did very well.

He had an excellent, Excellent assist. I think the second half was for him a better position, a bit deeper position than in the first half. But overall, like everyone, professional, top attitude and one decisive action. Do you anticipate making similar number of changes for the weekend? I cannot tell you. We have now three days, which is a big difference to only two days. We decided not to go back to England, but to stay in Prague one more night, get some good rest. and then travels straight to Croatia to have two training sessions there. And we will push everyone to be available, even as Rikonza and Nicole Riley, hopefully.

And then we know more. But, yeah, it's of course the next important match for us against a direct opponent, and we want to win. And I must ask you, you chose two of your Manchester City men in the starting lineup today. Gay and Anderson, did you have to look after them a little bit? I did not. I have a bad conscience now. I did not actually because I'm just focused on everything what we have to deal with here and to prepare the team. So I did not talk to them about the issue and I will not comment on it. But you're quite happy with their state of mind as it were. Oh, I think Mark today was absolutely excellent after a tough match against Spain. The reaction was on the highest level. He was absolutely excellent. And Elliot Anderson had a very good match.

Well, thanks Thomas. Appreciate that. Thomas Tuchel, just making his way off now, preparing Kelly, to head to Croatia tomorrow. Thank you very much. Paul Robinson, a quick word of reaction there on what Thomas Tuchel had to say. I kind of surmised that as him saying, job done, we move on. Pretty much so, yeah. He's looking after his players, you can tell. He's already thinking about the next game against Croatia. And, you know, this tournament's really important for Thomas Tuchel. You know, think of what you will of the Nations League. but actually the pressure that he came under after the World Cup and the questions over his job, this tournament became a lot more apparent and forward in his thinking because he's got to do well in this tournament.

He's got to get at least to the final, in my opinion, to be classed as a success, potentially win it. But if you look at his record before the Spain game, now he's lost only four of 24. And before the Spain game, he had a 77% win rate, which is better than any manager that's managed England for 10 or more games. So it's actually working, it's working programme.

but we'll always have criticisms, won't we? Because that's what we're here to do. Have you swallowed John Murray's notepad while he's been gone? He's left it. He's not really. He's not really. That's one of my own, Kelly. Very good, very good.

Paul, thank you very much. Enjoy the rest of your time in Prague. Thank you. Cheers. Take care. And a reminder, of course, that England are in action on Saturday evening against Croatia.

And we will, of course, have live commentary of that for you on Five Live. This is the Football Daily Podcast with Kelly Summers. In the early 90s, women's tennis was having a moment. This is a match that will live in the memory of all of us forever. Steffi had been so dominant. Suddenly along came Monica Sellis. She hit the bar big, she hit two hands off both sides.

And just when tennis fans were licking their lips at the prospect of a rivalry that would push the sport to new heights, one of the strangest and most shocking sporting crimes brought it to a grinding halt. Monica Selesh has been stabbed by a spectator. This man stole her story from her. Sports, strangest crimes, tennis's darkest hour. Listen on BBC Sounds.

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