If a wider audience beyond north London had not yet been made aware of Bukayo Saka’s immense talent, this was quite the introduction. On a night where so much attention fell on Jack Grealish’s inclusion from the start it was Gareth Southgate’s other attacking change who left a more lasting impression as the 19-year-old lit up a much-improved England performance that, while imperfect, will have significantly eased some doubts around their ability to go deep into this tournament.
Many Arsenal fans watching on will have felt a sense of deja vu as the Hale End graduate tormented the Czech Republic left back Jan Boril. When the Gunners travelled to face Slavia Prague in the Europa League two months ago Saka left Boril with twisted blood to the extent the 30-year-old was hooked at the interval of a 4-0 defeat. Respite did not arrive so soon for Boril here and a frustrated foul on the hour mark predictably earned the 30-year-old a yellow card.
By that point Saka had already wreaked havoc, most importantly playing an integral part in Raheem Sterling’s 12th-minute goal, which was enough to ensure England finished top of Group D and will retain home advantage in the round of 16, where they will face one from France, Portugal or Germany.
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Grealish provided the cross for Sterling to head home from close range but the move originated from Saka’s fearlessness. He galloped forward down the inside right channel from deep in England’s half, playing a one-two with Kalvin Phillips while advancing into the penalty area.
Once there Saka turned neatly, shifting the ball on to his right foot with Boril a nonentity before clipping a cross that had a little too much sauce. But Grealish was on hand to head back to Kane, who then played a return pass which the Aston Villa man danced with briefly before floating the ball up for Sterling to finish.
While the Manchester City player raced off to the corner to celebrate, a number of England players made a deliberate point to praise Saka. Harry Kane, Declan Rice and Kyle Walker all made a beeline for the teenager, clearly willing for him to produce more of the same.
The next incisive run did not arrive until midway through the opening period, when he cut in from the right and wriggled past a couple of red shirts on the 18-yard line before offloading, but there was a sense of excitement every time that he received the ball facing goal. This was the positivity and energy England had been crying out for in that tepid, one-dimensional draw with Scotland on Friday night.
Progression was already guaranteed on account of results elsewhere, of course; the only details requiring clarification being where their round of 16 game would be played and against whom. Yet there remained a notable feeling of angst post-Scotland. Such is the expectation level and pressure on this team, amplified by it being a de facto home championship, that every misstep is magnified to the extent that it can sometimes feel like the country is on the cusp of a breakdown.
Deeper analysis of English football’s neurosis can be postponed for another day, perhaps a week from now, even though the perpetual selection discourse immediately shifted to Jadon Sancho’s absence once confirmation arrived 90 minutes prior to kick off that the previous People’s Choice was afforded a starting berth.
Grealish’s inclusion was inevitable from the moment Mount was ruled out because of a breach of Covid-19 protocol. Placing the Chelsea midfielder, alongside his clubmate Ben Chilwell, in self-isolation at St George’s Park until next Monday was a harsh and inconsistent punishment for an act that was ultimately naive and reckless. Rules are rules, after all – even if no one seemed entirely sure what they were.
To what extent Southgate and his coaching staff were concerned about Grealish’s workrate off the ball is debatable but his inclusion at least in part facilitated the Arsenal teenager being jettisoned into the XI; the inference being that his superior defensive discipline compared to Sancho was required to compensate for Grealish’s penchant for freedom while Phil Foden was rested on account of being a yellow card away from suspension.
The summer window is officially open, and it’s going to be tough to keep up with the comings and goings in and out of the Emirates.
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Those fears were largely misplaced as Grealish ate through his fair share of dirty work, notably dispossessing Jakob Jankto in the final third with half an hour on the clock.
It helped that Czech Republic were more determined to push forward than Scotland or Croatia but England were far more cohesive in attack with Harry Kane, who looked far more mobile, finding additional options running in behind on his regular forays into midfield. The Tottenham star even found himself with a clear opportunity in front of goal, manoeuvring inside the area to get a good shot away midway through the opening period
But it was the directness of Saka and Grealish that laid the platform as a night which began with questions over why the former was included instead of Sancho ended with justifiable queries around whether Foden can be assured of a return next week.