"Ezri Konsa and Nico O’Reilly are following their own individual programmes at Tottenham Hotspur's training ground this morning. All other 22 players are involved in group training ahead of the squad departing for Prague this afternoon."
That update from the England camp, quoted by goal.com, is the clearest snapshot of Thomas Tuchel's problem before Czech Republic vs England. England are already dealing with the fallout from a 3-2 defeat to Spain, and the squad has travelled to Prague with fresh doubts in defensive areas rather than any settled reset.
Tuchel's squad problem before Prague
The first point is straightforward enough on availability. Ezri Konsa and Nico O'Reilly were not part of group training, but neither has been ruled out for Tuesday. In a preview like this, that distinction matters. They are doubts, and significant ones, not confirmed absentees.
The rest of the squad did train, with 22 players involved before the flight to Prague. UEFA only allow 23 players to be named for Nations League matches, so the numbers leave Tuchel with very little spare room once injuries or late setbacks creep in.
That is why the defensive angle feels more pressing than anything Czech Republic might try to spring. England conceded 3 against Spain at Wembley in the opening Nations League match, and that came before this latest disruption to training. A team that already looked too open now heads into an away game still sorting out who is fit enough to start.
There is also uncertainty around the shape of the back line. Trent Alexander-Arnold is under consideration, but Tuchel has not publicly locked himself into a full starting XI. Reports have also pointed to James Trafford keeping his place in goal, with Jordan Pickford still in the picture.
The schedule Tuchel is pushing back against
Tuchel's frustration is not just about two players training separately. Speaking to goal.com, he said: "I think the players would have loved three short windows. I can hardly think of a period in club football where you have matches and a turnaround like we have now. We have Saturday-Tuesday and then another Saturday-Tuesday, so only two days in between each game. That sounds too condensed if you have two-and-a-half weeks together. It does not feel 100 per cent right, I have to say."
Managers complain about calendars all the time, but this one lands with a bit more force because England's problems are so immediate. Tuchel is trying to repair a defence that shipped 3 in the opener while managing a camp where Konsa and O'Reilly are on separate programmes. It is not ideal preparation for an away tie that already carries more edge than a routine September assignment.
Pre-match group standings add to that pressure. England are third in League A Group 3 after one game, while Czech Republic are second. That is only early context, not a decisive table, but it does mean England do not arrive with the comfort of a strong start.
Croatia beat the Czechs in their opener, so both sides head into Tuesday off a loss. Even so, the home side have every reason to believe the game is there for them if England defend as loosely as they did against Spain.
The defensive reset still looks unfinished
The bigger concern for England is that Tuchel still seems to be diagnosing the team as much as preparing it. Harry Kane remains the obvious attacking reference point after scoring 1 goal in 1 Nations League appearance, but this trip does not really hinge on England's centre-forward. It hinges on whether they can stop making life difficult for themselves at the back.
That is where the O'Reilly situation could push another change. Football365 reported that Arsenal's Lewis Hall may come into the side after O'Reilly trained away from the rest of the squad. Tuchel may also lean on players such as Jude Bellingham or Anthony Gordon to give England better control without the ball, though the immediate issue is still the back line.
Czech Republic's captain Ladislav Krejčí, quoted by the Mirror, has already spoken about using the occasion as motivation. England do not need any extra warning signs. They have a thin margin for error, a manager irritated by the schedule and two defensive doubts still training on their own before a 7:45pm BST kickoff at the Fortuna Arena on Tuesday.
FAQ
Will Ezri Konsa and Nico O'Reilly play for England against the Czech Republic?
They were not ruled out, but both trained away from the main group before England travelled to Prague. The England camp said Ezri Konsa and Nico O'Reilly were on individual programmes while the other 22 players took part in group training, so they go into Tuesday as doubts rather than confirmed absentees.
Why is Thomas Tuchel unhappy with England's schedule before the Czech Republic match?
Tuchel said the current run of fixtures is too condensed. He pointed to a Saturday-Tuesday followed by another Saturday-Tuesday, with only two days between each game. His complaint is tied to player management as England prepare for Prague with fresh defensive concerns after the defeat to Spain.
How big is England's defensive problem before facing the Czech Republic?
It is a real issue because England conceded 3 goals in the 3-2 loss to Spain and now have fresh doubts over Konsa and O'Reilly. Tuchel still had 22 players in full training, but the defensive reshuffle looks live again, with reports also suggesting Trent Alexander-Arnold is under consideration.
When and where is Czech Republic vs England being played?
The match is scheduled for 7:45pm BST on Tuesday, September 29, 2026. England travel to the Fortuna Arena in Prague for the Nations League meeting with the Czech Republic after both sides lost their opening group game.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 6 outlets. How we work →
