Euro 2020: England beat Czech Republic to finish top of group - reaction

1. Use audio icon at top of the page to listen to live coverage
2. England finish top of group D as Sterling heads in winner
3. England will face Portugal, France, Germany or Hungary in last 16
4. Scotland out after 3-1 loss to Croatia
5. Get involved: #bbcfootball or text 81111 (UK only - texts will be charged at your standard message rate)

We're English. We love a good whinge.

We'll all be singing Three Lions in the pub in about 15 minutes.

Get Involved

Anyone that saw Phillips' performance against Croatia will know that he's not a defensive midfielder. He plays deeper than most, but he affects the game in both boxes. Stop whinging, we're already through and Grealish is playing like everyone asked for. Nothing's ever good enough for England fans.

Tom in Birmingham

Why it's time for Sterling to shine

BBC Sport

I've got to know Raheem Sterling pretty well in the past few months and I speak to him quite a lot. He's a good guy and an impressive person, as well as an excellent player.

I'm proud of who he's become off the pitch, and you have to admire how he's always worked so hard and looked at ways he can improve on it.

I get the sense that playing for England this summer can be a bit of a release for him after a difficult end to his club season, and he 100% would have felt like that after his winning goal against Croatia.

Read more from Rio Ferdinand here.

Get Involved

Bob: That goal Sterling almost missed against Croatia is going to come back and haunt England, now we are stuck with him in the team.

Joe: Talented squad being wasted by a scared manager. English football is back.

Euros Live Lounge

But can Bukayo Saka sing?

Because these three can't.

Daily Euros Live Lounge with England's Raheem Sterling, Jack Grealish and Dean Henderson

Saka shows 'no fear'

Chris Waddle

Ex-England winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

Getty Images

When I saw Marcus Rashford towards the end of the season and for England he has not really shown anything.

Bukayo Saka was excellent in the friendlies. He got at people and really looked the part. He is full of energy and is not afraid of taking people on.

When he has played he has shown no fear. And that is what you want.

In an England shirt I don't think that Jadon Sancho has shown his Dortmund form.

Apart from Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips, everyone else in those midfield and forward positions has a licence to thrill.

Lucky charm?

Getty Images

Could Bukayo Saka be England's lucky charm? England have not lost a match at a major tournament with an Arsenal player starting since Euro 2004 v France.

Defenders Ashley Cole and Campbell played in that game, which England lost 2-1.

I didn't 'want to risk' Foden - Southgate

England

England manager Gareth Southgate speaking on ITV: "They [Mason Mount & Ben Chilwell] are hugely disappointed to miss the games. We just have to get on with it. It is a bizarre situation, they have spent 120 seconds too long in a fairly open space. It is full of contradictions for me but we will get on with it.

"I don't understand it because there are teams travelling around by planes, coach and by bus in enclosed spaces for hours and our two boys have been pinged. I really don't get it."

On Phil Foden's absence: "He is on a yellow card and given that we look like we are missing two players already for next round I don't want to risk a third.

"It is a rarity in tournament football. There is a prize because we want to stay at Wembley and it is a great opportunity for people but a consequence of not doing so well is less fatal. It is great night for our attacking players to express themselves."

On Harry Maguire's inclusion: "I think he has been the outstanding English defender in the league this season. He has been such a bedrock for us. It was a difficult call because Tyrone has been a colossus for us but it is a good opportunity for Harry to get 90 minutes."

Get Involved

This inexperienced Sancho line really explains why we will never play entertaining football under Southgate. Sancho as a lot of Champions League experience and his goalscoring and assist record is exceptional. He should be one of our first choices and it's an absolute disgrace that he's not played a minute. I'm sure there is this other striker people are talking about who may have benefited from Sancho's assists at club level......

Stuart from Stoke

I'm baffled how a team like England who after three hours of tedious football have had just two shots on target and scored one goal can progress to the last 16. Southgate really has to be more positive in his tactics.

Rob in Finchley

'England had stage fright against Scotland'

Chris Sutton

Former Premier League striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

I think the England players were in fear of losing against Scotland, they had stage fright, they didn't want that embarrassment. I'm hoping things will be totally different tonight.

We need a performance to take heart from against the Czechs, but they will be stubborn, they'll be difficult to break down.

'Clean sheets win matches'

Karen Carney

Former England winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

I don't mind if Kalvin Phillips and Declan Rice are going to sit. We are into the next round and we are comfortable. We are into the next round with two clean sheets and they are what win matches.

The fan inside me wants us to go for it. But if you want to progress in tournament football we have to have the balance as well.

Get Involved

Sam: Two defensive midfielders again against weaker opposition is just a complete joke. Southgate is so painfully cautious and negative. Why can’t we just go for it, play Grealish and Foden in the middle ahead of Rice and get Sancho on the left!

There were also strong suggestions from Gareth Southgate that Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell will be unavailable for the last-16 tie due to their self-isolation.

Obviously nothing confirmed yet but Southgate didn't seem too convinced. Big blow to lose Mount in particular?

61% chance of ending top

Simon Gleave, head of sports analysis, Nielsen's Gracenote: "England have a 61% chance of finishing top of Group D, 34% chance of being second and 5% chance of third place according to Gracenote's model simulations.

"Currently England are most likely to face Germany, at home, in the second round if they win the group while Spain are the most likely opposition, in Copenhagen, should England finish second. England remain fourth favourites to win Euro 2020, behind Belgium, France and Italy. However, this is due to the likelihood of three more home matches if they get far enough."

'Kane is our best player'

Alan Shearer

Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

Getty Images

It is part of a striker's life that you are not going to score or play well in every game.

Harry Kane will be used to it. He has not played well in the first two games, he can't deny that, but he is our best player and best forward.

He scored goals for fun in the Premier League last season, more goals and assists than anyone. You have to stick with him and believe that it is going to turn around because he is that good.

Gareth Southgate has just told ITV he didn't want to "take a risk" with Phil Foden, who is on a yellow card.

Sensible decision.

Getty Images

'People wouldn't call for Ronaldo to be dropped'

Chris Sutton

Former Premier League striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

Yes, Harry Kane has looked tired, he's looked flat, but how many chances have been created for him in this tournament?

He needs chances. He's England's best striker.

If Cristiano Ronaldo went two games without scoring for Portugal, people wouldn't be calling for him to be dropped.

'Southgate putting his neck on the line'

Alan Shearer

Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

You can't just leave someone out because they have not performed for two games.

Let's not forget the positives of the first game. England won and if you left someone out every two games because they did not score, Chris Sutton would never have played at Blackburn.

Harry Kane is our leader and captain. Gareth [Southgate] is putting his neck on the line for him and as a player you think, 'I need to go out and perform.'

'Kane is hugely important'

Gareth Southgate has backed captain Harry Kane.

The striker is yet score at Euro 2020 and was substituted during the opening win over Croatia and Friday's goalless draw with Scotland.

"The only thing that is relevant is his importance to the team. He's been our best and most influential player for a long period of time.

"There have been moments when the likes of Raheem [Sterling] has also been critical in terms of goal scoring but Kane is a hugely important figure for us."

Gareth Southgate says Harry Kane is England's 'most important player'

'Why it's time for Henderson'

BBC Sport

It's the perfect time to bring Jordan Henderson back into our midfield.

Henderson might not be everyone's idea of how to put right what went wrong for us last time out against Scotland but, if he's ready physically, there are several ways he would make a big difference against the Czech Republic.

Firstly, he has the know-how to realise when to speed a game up by taking risks and playing more forward passes - or longer balls - just as he knows when to calm everything down. We didn't do either especially well against the Scots.

He is also great at leading the press - he's very proactive in dictating how the whole team do it so well when he plays for Liverpool.

Read more from Danny Murphy here.