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The Czech Republic are hoping to exploit a perceived weakness in England’s defence by targeting centre back Harry Maguire during their Euro 2020 qualifier on Friday, striker Matej Vydra has said.
Vydra, who also plays for Burnley, said his club had employed a similar strategy when they faced Maguire’s Leicester City team in the Premier League this season and the approach paid dividends with the defender being sent off early on.
“(England’s) attack is very strong. Defence, I don’t say it’s not strong as well, but it’s not as strong as the attack,” Vydra told reporters.
“For example, Maguire. We talked about him at Burnley before we played against Leicester. In some moments it seems he doesn’t know what’s happening behind him, that’s why he got a red card after five minutes in the match against Burnley.”
With England missing Manchester City centre back John Stones due to injury, Maguire is set to be joined by either Everton’s Michael Keane or Vydra’s Burnley team mate James Tarkowski in central defence.
Show all 24 1 /242022 England World Cup squad: Who will be on the plane to Qatar? 2022 England World Cup squad: Who will be on the plane to Qatar? Who will make it into England's squad for Qatar 2022? The next World Cup is less than four years away and while we don't yet know how many teams will be there, or if England will be either, let's take a look who could be pulling on the Three Lions in Qatar
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2022 England World Cup squad: Who will be on the plane to Qatar? Jordan Pickford (Goalkeeper, Everton) The No 1 now and frontrunner for 2022 has time on his side and is the man in possession
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2022 England World Cup squad: Who will be on the plane to Qatar? Jack Butland (Goalkeeper, Jack Butland) In and out the squad Butland remains one of the better keepers in this country and will only be 30 come 2022
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2022 England World Cup squad: Who will be on the plane to Qatar? Angus Gunn (Goalkeeper, Southampton) The young wild card option is always hotly-contested but the Saints shotstopper looks best placed to seize a spot on the plane
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2022 England World Cup squad: Who will be on the plane to Qatar? Aaron Wan-Bissaka (Right-back, Crystal Palace) The 21-year-old has exploded on to the scene and should he keep up that trajectory looks a shoe-in for a squad place if not a starting one
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2022 England World Cup squad: Who will be on the plane to Qatar? Joe Gomez (Centre-back, Liverpool) If he keeps free of injury the improving Liverpool star could be England's leading defender come Qatar
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2022 England World Cup squad: Who will be on the plane to Qatar? Harry Maguire (Centre-back, Leicester) The Fixes star man hasn't shown any regression since Russia and will be a lock to be a key piece again
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2022 England World Cup squad: Who will be on the plane to Qatar? John Stones (Centre-back, Manchester City) Playing in a record-breaking team under a record-breaking coach is doing him no harm and he will be involved for sure
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2022 England World Cup squad: Who will be on the plane to Qatar? Eric Dier (Centre-back, Tottenham) Dier's versatility will help his chances and in this squad he could be the fourth centre-back or a back-up holding midfielder
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2022 England World Cup squad: Who will be on the plane to Qatar? Ben Chilwell (Left-back, Leicester) The 22-year-old is one of the Premier League's rising stars and will be looking to make the England left-back shirt his own over the next couple of years
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2022 England World Cup squad: Who will be on the plane to Qatar? Luke Shaw (Left-back, Manchester United) With his injury problems seemingly behind him Shaw is an almost certainty to be included
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2022 England World Cup squad: Who will be on the plane to Qatar? Trent Alexander-Arnold (Centre midfield, Liverpool) Is there anything he can't do? A star at right-back a shift into the holding role could suit both him and England as Southgate looks to evolve his side
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2022 England World Cup squad: Who will be on the plane to Qatar? Declan Rice (Centre midfield, West Ham) Now finally qualified Rice will look to cement a place not only in the squad but in the first-choice XI as perhaps the best pure holding midfield player in the country
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2022 England World Cup squad: Who will be on the plane to Qatar? Harry Winks (Centre midfield, Tottenham) With a run of games Winks is showing the class that he has always shown in flashes. More games at the top level can only see his stock rise
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2022 England World Cup squad: Who will be on the plane to Qatar? Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Centre midfield, Chelsea) A Southgate favourite a fit and firing Loftus-Cheek could well be starting come 2022. Unfortunately that has long been an issue for the Chelsea man. If he's healthy, he's in
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2022 England World Cup squad: Who will be on the plane to Qatar? Phil Foden (Centre midfield, Manchester City) The City starlet was the star of the World Cup-winning U17s side and has more than enough quality to finally break through over the next three years
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2022 England World Cup squad: Who will be on the plane to Qatar? Dele Alli (Centre midfield, Tottenham) Still one of the stars of this side Alli promises to be an even bigger difference-maker come 2022 when he will be firmly in his prime
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2022 England World Cup squad: Who will be on the plane to Qatar? James Maddison (Centre midfield, Leicester) Perhaps the best out and out No 10 England has there surely has to be place in the 23 for one of the most creative players around
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2022 England World Cup squad: Who will be on the plane to Qatar? Jadon Sancho (Winger, Borussia Dortmund) Already a star the sky is the limit for Sancho with a consistent starting spot with his country well within his grasp
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2022 England World Cup squad: Who will be on the plane to Qatar? Callum Hudson-Odoi (Winger, Chelsea) The Chelsea man (for now) has everything and with more games should come the case for him to be a fixture in this squad for years to come. Whether they come in England or elsewhere remains to be seen
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2022 England World Cup squad: Who will be on the plane to Qatar? Raheem Sterling (Winger, Manchester City) Flourishing under Guardiola's guidance Sterling has gone from promising player to world-class star. 2022 could be his stage to go even further
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2022 England World Cup squad: Who will be on the plane to Qatar? Jesse Lingard (Winger, Manchester United) The midfielder-cum-forward-cum-anything you need him to be has never let anyone down and while there are perhaps more talented players available there is no one Southgate trusts more
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2022 England World Cup squad: Who will be on the plane to Qatar? Harry Kane (Striker, Tottenham) The captain starred in Russia picking up the Golden Boot and will again be the man to lead the line in Qatar
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2022 England World Cup squad: Who will be on the plane to Qatar? Marcus Rashford (Striker, Manchester United) Still only 21 Rashford has potential to grow from one of the outstanding young players in the country to being one of the most feared in world football come 2022
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Vydra said the Czechs planned to disrupt England’s passing game by snapping into tackles and denying their opponents time on the ball.
“(England) like to hold the ball so we have to be close to them,” he added. “Don’t be afraid to kick them three or four times â then they may change the plan and play one or two touches.”
Harry Maguire tracks Jadon Sancho (AFP/Getty) England play the Czech Republic at Wembley before travelling to take on Montenegro on Monday.
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