Second-half goals from Anthony Gordon and Harry Kane secured the win after Pavel Šulc’s first-half red card made England’s task easier. Tuchel made four changes from the 3-2 defeat to Spain and admitted his team struggled at times to break down the hosts.
“I love sometimes these unglamorous results,” Tuchel said. “Sometimes you just need to leave the stadium and win 2-0 and have a relaxed evening and go on to the next one. You cannot always be glamorous; you cannot always be super exciting. You sometimes have to do the hard work.
“There is not a lot of praise because we were the favourites; we demanded the win from us, and you go up with one man, of course, everyone expects (the win) from ourselves. That’s why we didn’t panic, but we needed to play with a little more urgency and dynamic movements on the side. Overall, that’s what also builds character, if you go to Czechia in an away stadium and you just do it.”
Tuchel was particularly pleased with Trent Alexander-Arnold, who earned his first start in two years and provided the assist for Gordon’s opener. “I have no doubt that he can produce these kinds of assists,” the manager said. “Trent was very secure on the ball, and can be decisive with his crosses. Solid in defending and he had one decisive action that helped us score, so a good performance overall.”
England now turn their attention to Croatia after a brief rest in Prague. Tuchel noted the strain of the extended international window, with Jude Bellingham the latest to pick up a niggle, while Nico O’Reilly and Ezri Konsa also missed the match through injury.