Santi Denia, the Czechia coach who spent years shaping nearly all of Spain's World Cup-winning squad in their formative years, has a confession to make: he's a huge fan of English football. So huge, in fact, that after a 2-0 defeat by England in Prague, he walked along the touchline, shook Thomas Tuchel's hand, and said something he thinks he had never uttered at full-time: "See you soon." Tuchel, presumably bemused but polite, replied: "See you soon."

Seven days later, via Oviedo and Rijeka respectively, they meet again at Wembley. Because nothing says "see you soon" like a quick jaunt through European travel hubs. "Four matches in 11 days, no time to train, for anything; I haven't heard a single national coach say they like the new setup," Denia says, but it's not all bad and there's a big smile too. Ah yes, the international football calendar: designed by someone who really hates knees.

This is the start of a new life, yet familiar faces await, warmth in every word. Very familiar faces. If Czechia's opponents in this Nations League could not have been much worse, they could not have been much better either. In Oviedo, Denia's team played his country, his players; in London, for the second time in a week, they play the nation he knows better than any other, more footballers he has seen grown up. Hello, again.

And what of Anthony Gordon? Denia's assessment is nothing short of effusive: "What a player! He's at the same level as Lamine Yamal." That's right, the same Lamine Yamal who is currently being compared to Messi and Pelé by everyone with a microphone. No pressure, Anthony. No pressure at all.