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By Phil McNulty
Chief football writer in Prague
Following their unbeaten run was finished by the Republic deservedly in qualifiers stretching back 10 26,, england must wait to verify their place.
Gareth Southgates side would have secured their place in next summers championship with success at Prague but they can have no complaints after a wretched display against a side that were a different proposition from 5-0 sailed aside in March at Wembley.
When they beat Bulgaria and Kosovo do not conquer on Montenegro england can be eligible on Monday.
England were handed the ideal start when captain Harry Kane place them ahead from the penalty spot in the fifth minute following Lukas Masopust fouled Raheem Sterling but they were well below their best and slumped to a bitterly disappointing defeat.
The Czechs were level when Jakub Brabec felt after a corner. England couldnt muster inspiration and substitute Zdenek Ondrasek pounced to score the winner.
England were desperately poor during and were thankful to goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, that made fine saves from Vladimir Masopust Coufal and Alex Kral, while Czech counterpart Tomas Vaclik failed to refuse Kane along with Sterling.
They could put things right against Bulgaria in Sofia on Monday however this was a severe reality check to get a side expecting to do good things following summer, since they went down on 10 losing a qualifier for the first time.
This will rank as the manager himself must take his share of the duty and one of the worst performances of the reign of Southgate.
No-one can whine about his decision to give the in-form Mason Mount of Chelsea his introduction ahead of team-mate Ross Barkley however the child in the first half.
Components will relish facing Southgate and this England defence is running out of time to apply the correct
Mount was able to affect the game and also Declan Rice vulnerable and pedestrian and Jordan Henderson, England found themselves often overrun from the sprightly Czechs.
Englands potent attacking trio of Sterling Kane and Jadon Sancho were all out of service, which makes them in every region of the pitch.
The Czech Republic, supported by a crowd in Prague, accumulated optimism and momentum and it was no surprise if Ondrasek broke Pickfords immunity .
This was not really great enough from England and the concerns that surfaced about their true quality if they won 5-3 in Southampton in style against Kosovo will just grow after this.
Any hope the defensive doubt that characterised Englands success had been addressed was banished in Prague.
As the Czech Republic responded to the ancient salvo of England pickford saved brilliantly from Coufal but there was also the trademark confusion in the corner that finished stabbing home from close range.
England lived throughout and it wasnt a shock when they eventually surrendered.
Evertons Michael Keane struggles while full-backs Danny Rose and Kieran Trippier covered themselves in glory .
Harry Maguire looks the 1 staple in defence however he does not exude confidence .
To put it differently, 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) attempting to secure a spot at Euro 2020.
There was somebody out there who did that could do it and do it
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