Record of England v Czech Republic Matches
History of Results of English Internationals against Czechoslovakia
Aug 18, 2008
England and the Czech Republic have met on one previous occasion. In November, 1998 the two teams played a friendly game at Wembley. England won the game with two goals in the first half, scored by Darren Anderton and Paul Merson. Two players from that team are members of manager, Fabio Capello’s squad – Rio Ferdinand and David Beckham.
The full England team was: Martyn, Campbell, Le Saux, Butt, Keown, Ferdinand, Anderton, Beckham, Dublin, Wright (Fowler), Merson (Hendrie).
The match against the Czech Republic was the last England game with Glenn Hoddle as manager as in February, 1999 the Football Association terminated his contract over comments he made in a newspaper interview concerning disabled people.
Prior to this, when the Czech Republic was part of Czechoslovakia, the two countries played on twelve occasions. It was in 1994 that the Czech Republic played its first game against Turkey, after Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
History of International Games
England and Czechoslovakia have played in England on five occasions with the home nation undefeated with four wins and one draw. England have won three of the away matches with two draws and two defeats.
First Games - Matthews Hat-trick
The first match between the two countries was played in May, 1934 in Prague and England lost by two goals to nil. The first match in England was played at White Hart Lane, Tottenham in December, 1937 and was the highest scoring encounter between the two sides with England winning by the odd goal in nine. England took an early lead through Jack Crayston only for Czechoslovakia to quickly equalise. John Morton in his only England appearance put England ahead and Stanley Matthews increased the lead inside half an hour. The visitors pulled a goal back just before the interval but Matthews restored England’s two goal advantage early in the second half. Czechoslovakia showed great resilience and scored twice to draw level with fourteen minutes remaining. Matthews completed his hat-trick seven minutes from time to secure England’s victory. This was Matthews only hat-trick for his country and he score all three goals with his left foot.
Matches in 1960s
The next meetings between the two countries didn’t take place until the 1960s. In May, 1963 they met as part of an England summer tour when England had a convincing 4-2 victory with the goals scored by Jimmy Greaves (2), Bobby Smith and Bobby Charlton. Then, after England’s World Cup triumph in 1966 they met at Wembley in a game that finished scoreless, the only time that England haven’t won on home territory.
1970s Games
The next occasion that the two countries met was their first competitive match in the World Cup Finals in Mexico. England won by a single goal scored by Allan Clarke from the penalty spot. That was one of five games in the 1970s. The next was a friendly in Prague which ended 1-1 with the goals scored by Igor Novak and a last minute equaliser from Clarke. The countries were drawn together for the European Championship qualifying matches in 1974 and 1975. England won at Wembley by three goals but lost the return match a year later by two goals to one. A friendly match in 1978 at Wembley was settled by a single Steve Coppell goal.
Last Matches against Czechoslovakia
In the 1982 World Cup Finals in Spain England won by 2-0 with two quick second half goals in three minutes from Trevor Francis and an own goal. The final games between the two countries were friendlies in 1990 and 1992. England won 4-2 at Wembley with goals scored by Steve Bull (2), Stuart Pearce and Paul Gascoigne. The last match ended 2-2 in Prague with England’s goals scored by Merson and Martin Keown.
Fabio Capello is preparing his England team for next month's World Cup qualifying games.
