Anthony Gordon sees major form boost for England in 2026

England secured a 2-0 victory away to Czechia in the UEFA Nations League, with Anthony Gordon continuing his hot streak by scoring the opener and Harry Kane adding a late goal to seal the win. Gordon’s strike arrived less than two minutes after the restart in Prague, capitalising on a precise cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold, after Pavel Šulc had been sent off in the first half. Kane’s finish, his 123rd for England at senior level, confirmed the result.

Gordon extends his scoring run

Gordon’s goal kept him on a remarkable run for England, contributing to three goals in as many appearances. He had previously scored in England’s World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina and also found the net in the 3-2 loss to Spain at Wembley. After the Czechia match, captain Harry Kane highlighted Gordon’s growing influence, telling BBC Radio 5 Live: “He’s showing that he belongs at the highest level, for Barcelona and England. His performances in the last couple of games have been some of his best that he has played in an England shirt and I think he is just relishing putting the shirt on and being one of the main men in the team. He is an important player for us and he showed that during the World Cup.”

Tuchel praises full-back displays

England manager Thomas Tuchel applauded the performances of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Lewis Hall after the match. Speaking to ITV, he said: “Both good. The position in the second half suited Trent more than in the first half. Lewis did excellent on the other side.”

Tuchel also addressed Alexander-Arnold’s return to the England squad—the winger’s first appearance for his country since the World Cup qualifier against Andorra in June last year. He added to 5 Live: “He did very well. He had an excellent assist. Overall like everyone [he] was professional, top attitude and one decisive action.”

Match dynamics and immediate impact

The win in Prague followed England’s narrow defeat to Spain at home, with Gordon’s three-goal run strengthening his case as a regular attacking option for both club and country. The early second-half goal, created by Alexander-Arnold’s cross, underscored a growing chemistry on England’s right and left flanks, particularly between Gordon and Hall, who previously played together at Newcastle United.

Pavel Šulc’s dismissal for Czechia in the first half altered the game’s dynamics, forcing the hosts to continue with ten men for a substantial period after the break. Kane’s 123rd international goal then put the result beyond doubt.

What this means going forward

For Gordon, the immediate takeaway is increased confidence and selection security. Scoring in high-profile internationals—against Argentina in the World Cup semi-final, versus Spain at Wembley, and now in Prague—solidifies his reputation as a player who can deliver at the sport’s highest level. For Tuchel, the match provided reassurance about his options at full-back, with Alexander-Arnold’s creativity and Hall’s solid performance giving him more flexibility as he names his squad for upcoming fixtures, including the next Nations League opponents.

Tuchel urged the team to recover well after the victory and focus on the next challenge, saying it’s important “that we relax and enjoy the evening, do a good recovery and then prepare for Croatia.”

Next steps

England now turn their attention to their next Nations League match, prioritising recovery and preparation. Gordon’s ongoing scoring form and Alexander-Arnold’s return provide Tuchel with tactical options as he plans ahead and considers how to manage his full-back rotation in future fixtures.

Confirmed facts in this report are drawn from official match details and post-match comments attributed to Harry Kane (BBC Radio 5 Live) and Thomas Tuchel (ITV and 5 Live).

Source: Original report