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By Phil McNulty
Chief football writer in Prague
After their unbeaten streak was finished by the Czech Republic deservedly in qualifiers stretching back 10 26,, england have to wait to confirm their place.
Gareth Southgates side would have secured their place in next summers tournament with victory in Prague but they could have no complaints following a screen.
When they beat Kosovo and Bulgaria do not beat Montenegro england can qualify on Monday.
They had been well below their best and slumped into a bitterly disappointing defeat although england were handed the ideal start when captain Harry Kane place them ahead from the penalty spot in the fifth minute after Lukas Masopust fouled Raheem Sterling.
The Czechs were quickly level when Jakub Brabec felt following a corner. England couldnt muster inspiration and substitute Zdenek Ondrasek the winner with four minutes left.
England were weak during and were grateful to goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, that produced fine rescue from Vladimir Coufal, Masopust and Alex Kral, while counterpart Tomas Vaclik did well to deny Sterling along with Kane.
They can put things right against Bulgaria at Sofia however that was a serious reality check to get a side expecting to do good things as they went down 1-0 to Ukraine on 10 October 47, losing a qualifier for the first time.
This must rank as the manager himself must carry his share of this duty and one of the worst performances of Southgates predominate.
No-one can complain about his choice to give his introduction to the in-form Mason Mount of Chelsea ahead of team-mate Ross Barkley but the child never thrived in an advanced midfield position in the first half.
Quality sides will relish confronting this England defence and Southgate is running from time to apply the correct
Mount was able to affect the match and also Jordan Henderson and Declan Rice pedestrian and exposed, England found themselves often overrun by the Czechs.
England attacking trio of Sterling, Kane and Jadon Sancho were all out of support, leaving them.
The Czech Republic, backed by a noisy crowd in Prague, gathered optimism and momentum and it was no surprise if Pickfords resistance was eventually broken by Ondrasek late on.
This was not really great from England along with the concerns that surfaced about their true quality when they won 5-3 in chaotic style against Kosovo in Southampton will only increase after this.
Any hope the defensive doubt that characterised the success of England against Kosovo had been successfully addressed was banished inside the first ten minutes in Prague.
Since the Czech Republic reacted to Englands early salvo pickford saved from Coufal however there was also the trademark confusion in the subsequent corner that finished with Brabec stabbing home from close variety.
England lived dangerously during and it wasnt a shock when they eventually conceded on.
Evertons Michael Keane struggles desperately at the level while Kieran Trippier and full-backs Danny Rose hardly covered themselves in glory.
Harry Maguire seems the one staple in defence however he fails to exude confidence.
In other words, quality components will relish confronting this England defence and Southgate is running out of time to apply the fix.
England travel to Bulgaria on Monday (kick-off 19:45 BST) trying to secure a place at Euro 2020.
There was someone out there who did that would do it and do it again
Read more here: http://softballedge.com/?p=32255
