Czech Republic vs England: Last time England won in Prague was in 1908, when the locals attacked the referee after 4-0 win
ENGLAND have played in Prague four times, but tonight’s game will be the first there since the Czech Republic and Slovakia split into independent nations in 1993.
The Three Lions won in 1908 against what was then Bohemia but failed to beat Czechoslovakia in their three other friendlies in Prague.
1908 v Bohemia W 4-0 (June 13)
ENGLAND’S first visit to Prague was overshadowed by an early case of football hooliganism.
Englishman John Lewis’ decisions angered the crowd and Reuters reported: “After the match, the Czech spectators, who were greatly excited, made a demonstration against the referee and attacked and beat him severely.”
Although that account may have been exaggerated, Lewis said: “It was my unhappy duty to award a penalty kick to England.
“The spectators did not relish this decision and whenever I had to penalise an Englishman their cheering was distinctly ironical.
“Whenever there was any uncertainty in my mind, I gave the home side the preference.
“However, I evidently failed to give satisfaction. For, after the match, a great demonstration was made, owing to the foolish practice of allowing spectators to cross the pitch.
“I was kicked by a person afterwards. On leaving the dressing room I was offered an escort of policemen.”
1934 v Czechoslovakia L 2-1 (May 16)
THE Three Lions’ standing as self-anointed masters of football was rocked to its core as they suffered back-to-back defeats by continental opposition for the first time.
With Hungary winning by the same score six days earlier, a heated debate included calls for the FA to protect England’s reputation by ending summer trips to play continental teams.
Excuses for the defeats included end-of-season fatigue, hot weather, bone-dry pitches and the softer balls used abroad.
But former England captain Charles Wreford-Brown, who was in charge of the touring party, said: “England’s defeats in Budapest and Prague will, I hope, cause the whole football community in Britain to realise the tremendous advance the continent has achieved and the highly impressive challenge it is making to the pioneers of the game.
“It is up to our clubs and our experts to examine our tactics to see where we can improve.”
1973 v Czechoslovakia D 1-1 (May 27)
BOBBY MOORE was in defiant mood as he captained England for the 86th time – ten years after first leading the team against the same nation.
The West Ham star, who became England’s youngest captain at 22 years and 47 days in a 4-2 win in Bratislava in 1963, said: “I never dreamed it was the start of so much for me.
“It hurts a little when I hear whispers that I’m approaching the end.
"The accusations are that I’m too old, too slow, putting on weight and that my game has gone.
“I say let results speak for themselves. I’ve set my standards for myself. Nothing will let me fall below them.”
Ten days after Allan Clarke’s late goal salvaged a draw in Prague, Moore made a shocking error as England crashed 2-0 in Poland in a crunch World Cup clash and he never played another competitive international.
1992 v Czechoslovakia D 2-2 (March 25)
FURIOUS Graham Taylor called for players to be banned from their club’s next match if they were pulled out of internationals without written medical evidence.
Ten players pulled out of England duty and matters came to a head when Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson announced within minutes of his team’s weekend game that six of his internationals, including three from England, were injured.
Taylor's makeshift team scrambled a draw with goals from Paul Merson and Martin Keown.
After the game, the under-fire manager said: “I’ve been in this job 18 months now and, like my predecessors, I’ve learned you have to do it with one arm tied firmly behind your back.
“As a club manager I never pulled players out. I’ve always accepted what I’ve been told about injuries, but you know and I know there are suspicions.