Tuchel says Czech Republic game ‘not yet a must-win’

England coach Thomas Tuchel stated on Monday that the upcoming Nations League match against the Czech Republic in Prague is not yet a must-win, despite a 3-2 loss to Spain in a previous game. Spain managed to come back from a 2-1 deficit in a thrilling Group A3 opener at Wembley on Saturday, which has impacted England's chances of reaching their second-ever Nations League semi-final.

Tuchel, who previously led England to a third-place finish at the World Cup, mentioned that the target during the match remains to win, just like it was against Spain. He emphasized the importance of securing results to boost confidence, gain support, and generate belief, especially after a loss. Tuchel also expressed his expectations of a tough challenge from the Czechs, who recently appointed their first-ever foreign coach, Santi Denia of Spain.

The Czechs started poorly in their other Group A3 match on Saturday against Croatia but have shown improvement under Denia. Tuchel acknowledged the Czechs' quality and respect for the challenge, but highlighted the need to consider the players' health. England has only managed to reach a Nations League semi-final once out of three editions and was relegated to the second tier in the 2022/23 campaign.

The Czechs, however, have not lost any of their last four home games against England and won the last encounter 2-1 in a Euro 2020 qualifier in Prague in 2019. Despite the Czech Republic's strong recent form, Tuchel described them as a "team in the making" under Denia, who guided Spain to a 2024 Olympic gold medal.