Euro 2020 qualifiers: Gareth Southgate demands response from England after defeat to Czech Republic

A 2-1 result in Prague saw the World Cup semi-finalists fall to their first qualifying defeat for 10 years

Danny Rose of England and Lukas Masopust of Czech Republic during the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifier between Czech Republic and England at Sinobo Stadium in Prague, Czech Republic. Getty Images

Harry Kane of England celebrates scoring the first goal during the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifier between Czech Republic and England at Sinobo Stadium in Prague, Czech Republic. Getty Images

Michael Keane, Harry Maguire and Declan Rice of England look dejected during the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifier between Czech Republic and England at Sinobo Stadium in Prague, Czech Republic. Getty Images

Gareth Southgate, Head Coach of England during the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifier between Czech Republic and England at Sinobo Stadium in Prague, Czech Republic. Getty Images

Danny Rose of England and Lukas Masopust of Czech Republic during the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifier between Czech Republic and England at Sinobo Stadium in Prague, Czech Republic. Getty Images

Jan Boril , Vladimir Coufal and Ondrej Celustka of Czech Republic celebrate after the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifier between Czech Republic and England at Sinobo Stadium in Prague, Czech Republic. Getty Images

England's Harry Kane reacts during the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying, Group A match at Sinobo Stadium, Prague. PA Photo.

Czech Republic's Jan Boril (left) and England's Raheem Sterling battle for the ball during the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying, Group A match at Sinobo Stadium, Prague. PA Photo.

Czech Republic's Zdenek Ondrasek, left, scores his side's second goal during the Euro 2020 group A qualifying soccer match between Czech Republic and England at the Sinobo stadium in Prague, Czech Republic. AP Photo

Czech Republic goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik makes a save from England's Raheem Sterling during the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying, Group A match at Sinobo Stadium, Prague. PA Photo.

Czech Republic's Ondrej Celustka (r) stops England's Mason Mount (L) in front of Czech Republic's goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik during the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifier Group A football match Czech Republic v England at the Sinobo Arena. AFP

Czech Republic's midfielder Lukas Masopust (R) shoots past England's defender Danny Rose during the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifier Group A football match Czech Republic v England at the Sinobo Arena. AFP

England manager Gareth Southgate during the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying, Group A match at Sinobo Stadium, Prague. PA Photo.

Czech Republic's Vladimir Coufal, right, duels for the ball with England's Ross Barkley during the Euro 2020 group A qualifying soccer match between Czech Republic and England at the Sinobo stadium in Prague, Czech Republic. AP Photo

England's captain Harry Kane (R) and Czech Republic's Ondrej Celustka vie for the ball during the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifier Group A football match Czech Republic v England at the Sinobo Arena. AFP

Czech Republic's Ondrej Celustka fails to score past England's goalkeeper Jordan Pickford during the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifier Group A football match Czech Republic v England at the Sinobo Arena. AFP

Goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik of Czech Republic (R) and Jakub Brabec celebrate their victory after the UEFA EURO 2020 qualifier soccer match between Czech Republic and England in Prague, Czech Republic. EPA

England manager Gareth Southgate has asked for a response from his team after the World Cup semi-finalists slumped to a 2-1 defeat to the Czech Republic on Friday in Euro 2020 qualifying.

Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane gave England a fifth minute lead from the penalty spot, but Czech Republic were level just four minutes later through Jakub Brabec.

The hosts then took the decisive lead in Prague when substitute Zdenek Ondrasek pounced four minutes from time to consign England to their first qualifying defeat for 10 years.

England could have reached the finals with three games to spare with a win and, though they remain in a strong position to qualify, Southgate was far from happy with the display.

"We knew coming to Prague the [Czechs] would be highly motivated," he told reporters. "The players are human beings and some nights it doesn't happen. Tonight was one of those nights.

"We have to accept we weren't good enough, move forward and congratulate the Czechs on their performance."

The result puts the Czech Republic level on 12 points with Group A leaders England, albeit having played a game more.

England's formation never looked right and they struggled with a lack of balance in midfield but Southgate said the problems were not just tactical.

"Whatever the balance, we didn't use the ball well enough. We have always maintained there is work to be done to be a really top team. Tonight was evidence of that. It's not a night for positives, that's for sure," he said.

England face Bulgaria in Sofia on Monday and Southgate has plenty to work on with his squad, which will be without left back Danny Rose who is suspended after picking up a yellow card.

"It's clear we have to improve without the ball. It's something we have spoken about all week," said Southgate.

"We didn't get the reaction we needed. It's going to be an interesting couple of days for us. We have to respond in the right way."

The performance was a throwback to the pre-Southgate era when England lacked fluency and it had little in common with some of their excellent attacking displays under him.

"I think we have had a lot of credit over the last couple of years and tonight we did not do enough," he said. "Our performance was not good enough, it's as simple as that. The goals we conceded were typical of the chances we gave away."