England head coach Thomas Tuchel has acknowledged defensive issues within his team but remains confident in the overall defensive structure as they prepare to face the Czech Republic in a Nations League match in Prague. England’s recent form at the back has raised concerns after conceding 13 goals in their last six games, which includes a 3-2 defeat by Spain at Wembley last Saturday.
Tuchel described England as being their “biggest danger” during the match against Spain, highlighting that two of the goals conceded resulted from individual errors in possession by defenders Marc Guéhi and Nico O’Reilly. Despite this, Tuchel stressed that the collective defensive organization was solid, stating the team defended “very well in a block” and maintained structure even under pressure.
The coach emphasized that the vulnerabilities stemmed largely from individual mistakes rather than systemic defensive flaws. “When we had the ball, we were the biggest danger to ourselves around the box because we made too many individual mistakes,” Tuchel said, adding that they must improve technical precision under pressure to avoid such lapses in future matches.
Tuchel is expected to make minimal changes to the defensive lineup for the upcoming game despite these setbacks. James Trafford, who started in goal against Spain, will continue to share goalkeeping duties with Jordan Pickford, who is set to return for forthcoming fixtures. Tuchel noted that the goalkeeper position would be evaluated continuously, reflecting a rotation policy aimed at assessing form and fit within the team’s tactical style.
At right-back, the role remains uncertain. Jarell Quansah was preferred over Trent Alexander-Arnold in the recent defeat, with Alexander-Arnold having been an unused substitute. Although the Liverpool player brings notable attacking qualities, Tuchel is cautious about making changes purely driven by individual errors. Alexander-Arnold has been praised for his attitude and performances in training and remains available for selection.
The defensive backline may see some rotation due to injury doubts over O’Reilly and Ezri Konsa, with Lewis Hall and Trevoh Chalobah potential options to fill in. Tuchel has maintained trust in his defenders, affirming that the errors seen have been outliers rather than reflective of the unit’s capability.
England faces the Czech Republic, a team ranked 45 places below them in FIFA standings but with a history of upsetting England in Prague, notably ending England’s 43-match unbeaten qualifying streak in 2019. Czech defender Ladislav Krejci acknowledged the significance such victories hold for the nation and said his team would be motivated to replicate past success.
Tuchel highlighted the challenges of international football, where limited training sessions and fixture congestion demand quick cohesion, contrasting this with club football's longer preparation periods. While acknowledging England’s defensive shortcomings, he remains focused on gradual improvement and sees the Nations League as an opportunity to build the team's coherence and resilience moving forward.