Rico Lewis called up to England squad for UEFA Nations League Czech Republic clash
Synopsis
England's 7-0 dismantling of Croatia is already fading into the backdrop — the new talking point is Rico Lewis's recall to the senior squad after more than a year away. With O'Reilly injured and the Czech Republic still pointless, Tuchel has an opportunity to give Lewis meaningful minutes and deepen his squad options ahead of a Nations League campaign that is building serious momentum.
Key Takeaways
Rico Lewis has been called up to the England senior squad after Nico O'Reilly withdrew with an injury.
Lewis has five senior caps and last played for England in November 2024 against Greece .
England beat Croatia 7-0 in Rijeka on Saturday, with Kane and Saka scoring twice each.
England sit second in the group with six points from three games; Spain lead with nine .
The Czech Republic have zero points and already lost 2-0 to England in Prague on 29 September .
O'Reilly has returned to Manchester City for further medical assessment.
Manchester City defender Rico Lewis has been added to the England senior squad by head coach Thomas Tuchel ahead of their upcoming UEFA Nations League fixture against the Czech Republic, after City teammate Nico O'Reilly was ruled out through injury. Lewis, promoted from the England Under-21 setup, brings further depth to a squad riding high on the back of a dominant 7-0 victory over Croatia in Rijeka on Saturday.
Lewis Returns After Over a Year Away
Rico Lewis holds five senior caps for England but had not featured for the Three Lions since November 2024, when he played in a 3-0 win over Greece. His recall was triggered directly by O'Reilly's withdrawal — the midfielder returned to Manchester City for further assessment after picking up a knock during the international break, having also featured in England's 3-2 defeat to Spain.
England's Croatia Demolition: How It Unfolded
England's performance against Croatia was one of the most commanding of the Tuchel era. Harry Kane opened the scoring inside eight minutes, before Jude Bellingham doubled the lead in the 21st minute. Anthony Gordon added a third six minutes before the break, and Bukayo Saka made it 4-0 on the stroke of half-time. Kane completed his brace after the interval, Saka struck again to make it six, and substitute Morgan Rogers rounded off the rout late in the game. Kane and Saka each scored twice; Bellingham, Gordon and Rogers also got on the scoresheet.
Group Standing and the Czech Republic Context
The 7-0 result handed England their second win of the Nations League campaign. Tuchel's side now have six points from three matches and sit second in the group, behind leaders Spain, who have a perfect nine points. England are also six points clear of the Czech Republic, who are yet to register a single point. England had already beaten the Czechs 2-0 in Prague on 29 September, with Gordon and Kane on the scoresheet.
What Tuchel's England Look Like Now
England's strong Nations League start under Tuchel marks a notable upturn in form and confidence. The squad's attacking depth — with Kane, Saka, Bellingham and Gordon all contributing at the sharp end — offers flexibility across systems. Lewis's return adds a versatile, high-press-oriented option at right-back and in midfield, qualities that fit Tuchel's tactical demands. This is the Czech Republic's last chance in the group to salvage a point, but England, with momentum and a healthy squad, will be firm favourites.
Point of View
Tactically flexible squad rather than rely on a fixed fifteen. England's Nations League campaign looks comfortable on paper, but Spain's nine-point perfect start means the race for group leadership is already decided in one direction. The more meaningful sub-plot is whether Tuchel uses these final group games to embed depth options like Lewis, or plays safe for results. Given England's six-point buffer over the Czechs, this is arguably the ideal window to experiment without consequence.
NationPress
5 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Rico Lewis called up to the England squad?
Rico Lewis was called up after Manchester City midfielder Nico O'Reilly withdrew from the England squad with an injury and returned to his club for assessment. Lewis was promoted directly from the England Under-21 setup to fill the vacancy.
When did Rico Lewis last play for England?
Rico Lewis last featured for the England senior side in November 2024, in a 3-0 win over Greece. He has five senior caps in total and had not been part of the senior setup since then.
What happened in England's 7-0 win over Croatia?
England defeated Croatia 7-0 in Rijeka on Saturday in one of their most dominant displays under Thomas Tuchel. Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka scored twice each, while Jude Bellingham, Anthony Gordon and substitute Morgan Rogers also got on the scoresheet.
Where do England stand in the UEFA Nations League group?
England are second in their group with six points from three matches, behind leaders Spain who have a perfect nine points. The Czech Republic are bottom with zero points.
Has England played the Czech Republic before in this Nations League campaign?
Yes. England defeated the Czech Republic 2-0 in Prague on 29 September, with Anthony Gordon and Harry Kane scoring. The upcoming fixture will be a second meeting between the sides in the same campaign.
