Football: Czech Republic draws 2:2 with England

The Czech Republic’s national football team tied 2:2 with England in a friendly at Wembley Stadium on Thursday. It was the Czechs’ first match under new head coach Petr Rada and the team got off to a good start, twice holding the lead. The team’s first goal was scored by Milan Baroš in the first half, but England tied just before half-time. The Czechs then went ahead again in the 2nd half on a precise technical strike by Marek Jankulovski, but lost the lead for the second time in the final minute of the game, when Joe Cole scored on a scramble in front of Petr Čech’s net. The friendly was seen as an important test for both the Czech Republic and England ahead of World Cup qualification this autumn.