England were kept goalless for only the second time under Sarina Wiegman as they had to settle for a 0-0 draw against Czech Republic at Brighton’s American Express Community Stadium.
On the day that Lucy Bronze celebrated her 100th England cap, the home side enjoyed the better of the chances, without being able to find a way past the impressive Olivie Lukasova.
As a result, the Czechs join Spain as the only team to have denied England a goal under Wiegman, four days on from England’s magnificent win over world champions, the USA.
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The European champions looked as though they would continue as they had left off against the USA when Lauren James hit the post just three minutes into her full debut.
But while they were the more threatening side for the remainder of the first half, that was as close as they came against a well-organised Czech outfit, Lauren Hemp also finding the post on the hour.
James was one of three changes made by Wiegman from the team that had turned over the world champions, with Demi Stokes and Ella Toone the others to come in, Rachel Daly, Beth Mead and Georgia Stanway dropping out.
The Czechs, who drew away to the USA earlier this year, looked very compact, particularly from set-piece as they frustrated England time and again.
It seemed so positive when James found some space in the box in the opening exchanges, skipping past one challenge and then firing with her left against the near post of Lukasova.
England were particularly threatening down the right, Bronze impressing on her landmark cap and regularly combining with Chloe Kelly.
When Bronze made a surging run through the middle, her pass out wide to Kelly was cleverly diverted to Toone, with Lukasova this time alert to the danger and getting out to close the angle on the Manchester United player.
The half ended with chances at both ends, Bronze crossing from the left and picking out Kelly, whose glancing header drifted just wide.
The fans in Brighton then had their hearts in their mouths when the Czechs pinched possession in the final third, with Andrea Staskova the beneficiary with a little bit of space in the box, only for Alex Greenwood to get back and block the shot.
England finished the stronger though, Greenwood almost scoring direct from a corner, Lukasova just alert enough to keep the inswinger out.
Mead came on for Kelly at the break, and almost had an immediate impact when she combined with Bronze to put the ball in for Hemp, who headed over while leaning backwards.
Not long after it was skipper Millie Bright who played Mead in behind but despite a good first touch, Lukasova got out to close the space and deny her.
On the hour, England had their best chance so far, Mead playing in Hemp who lifted the ball with the onrushing Lukasova getting a touch to push it onto the post. Fran Kirby looked certain to fire home the rebound but the ball just would not fall to her as the visitors survived.
Still England kept coming, Lukasova having to be alert as she kept out Mead, first, and then tipped Kirby’s long-range effort over the bar as the Czechs hung on for the draw.
