When Leroy Lita knocked his penalty kick wide in the 88th minute of England's opening game of the Under-21 European Championship, the Czech Republic players celebrated. That miss meant they were halfway towards a game against Italy that would still mean something to them - with qualification remaining a possibility, although first they must do to Serbia what they did to England.

There was potentially a weakness to be exploited in England's central defence. But Gary Cahill, in only his third Under-21 appearance, did well early on as the Czechs tested his resolve. Sensing that it might be easier to quash England's attacking routes, they reverted to tactics which frustrated Stuart Pearce's wide players. A good example was shortly after Wayne Routledge had come on, the Spurs player was taken out, then the Czech player made it look as though he'd been on the receiving end instead. To the annoyance of England's flair players, the Hungarian referee wasn't strong enough to clamp down on the cheating.

Kieran Richardson headed straight down the tunnel out of pure aggravation after he was substituted early in the second half, not as an act of defiance against Pearce. Unfortunately, when the only winger to reach the touchline got into a dangerous position, it was on the left side and Ashley Young's delivery was poor. David Nugent was craving service as a lone frontman, and eventually the penalty came from some inventive play of his own, started from a deeper position after Lita had replaced midfielder James Milner, allowing the Preston man some freedom.

"Getting Tom Huddlestone more involved next time will be an issue for Pearce to sort out"

A rare piece of imaginative play only occurred after Pearce had re-established balance in the team by bringing on Mark Noble as his third and final change. Tom Huddlestone, whom the Czechs simply bypassed in their own attacking moves by shooting from distance or cutting out the midfielder's passes to the widemen, had an ineffective game. A means of getting England's most creative player more involved next time will be an issue for Pearce to sort out.

Keeping Young on while taking off Milner upset the balance, instead of altering play and finding a the way to reach the front men. In the end the manager came out with a point - nothing more was deserved from an opening game he would have been desperate to win from the outset. What a difference it would have made if the penalty had gone in, though, especially when Italy lost their opening game later on in the evening. Defeat on Thursday for England could spell disaster.