England manager Gareth Southgate said his side didn't do enough in their 2-1 defeat to the Czech Republic in Euro 2020 qualifying on Friday.

The Three Lions suffered their first loss in a qualifier in 10 years in Prague, where goals from Jakub Brabec and Zdenek Ondrasek cancelled out Harry Kane's opener from the penalty spot.

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- Euro 2020 qualifying: All you need to know

And after the match, Southgate was blunt with his appraisal of his team's performance.

"I think we have had a lot of credit over the last couple of years and tonight we did not do enough," he told ITV. "Our performance was not good enough, it's as simple as that. The goals we conceded were typical of the chances we gave away.

"Collectively we have to accept there were not enough good performances. We tried to change the shape which was not working, we started the second half much better and we had good chances to win the game.

"We conceded too many poor chances and we gave the ball away too many times. We knew we'd have to be at full tilt to deal with the Czech Republic but we should have been strong enough to deal with them."

England captain Kane converted from the spot just five minutes in, after Raheem Sterling was fouled in the penalty area. But Southgate's men conceded almost immediately to level the contest, and then again in the 85th minute to seal their fate.

"I think it was down to us. It was a perfect start to an away game. We were sloppy with the ball, we didn't move it as quickly as we normally do," Kane said after the match. "The second half was better, we had a couple of chances to put the game to bed and we didn't and unfortunately we gave one away at the end.

"Every away game in Europe is difficult. They had the crowd behind them, sometimes the pitch is not as easy to play, but that's no excuse. It's a bit of a wake-up call but we're in a good position.

"There's still stuff to work on for sure. We gave the ball away too cheaply and we'll have to go away and look at it. There's no need to panic and we'll go again on Monday."

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph is officially out for Sunday night's game against the Los Angeles Chargers, paving the way for third-string quarterback Devlin Hodges to make his first career start.

"This is an opportunist league," offensive lineman Ramon Foster said Friday. "Guys, they jump in starting roles because of somebody else's misfortune. Careers are built like that.

"[Hodges] walks into the huddle like a little kid, but he plays big."

Hodges, an undrafted rookie, took over in the third quarter of last Sunday's loss to the Baltimore Ravens after Rudolph suffered a concussion on a hit by Earl Thomas. The veteran safety was fined $21,000 for the hit but plans to appeal.

Despite the head injury, Rudolph practiced throughout the week in a limited capacity. Hodges, however, took the majority of the first-team reps in practice.

Hodges tried out for the Steelers during rookie minicamp this year and earned an invitation to training camp. The Samford product, who won the 2018 Walter Payton Award as the best offensive player in the FCS, was cut after the final preseason game, but he rejoined the team as a practice squad addition a few weeks later. He was elevated to the 53-man roster when Ben Roethlisberger went on season-ending injured reserve following elbow surgery.

Hodges completed 7 of 9 passes for 68 yards in the overtime loss to the Ravens.

"You can see that preview in the game where he came in and we came down and put points on the board," wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster said. "I'm not nervous at all. We're going to L.A. It's going to be a fun game."

The Steelers also elevated practice squad quarterback Paxton Lynch to the active roster along with running back Trey Edmunds. The team released offensive lineman Fred Johnson and linebacker Jayrone Elliott to make room.

ST. LOUIS -- The Washington Nationals will begin the National League Championship Series without the services of their closer, Daniel Hudson, who was placed on the paternity list prior to Friday's Game 1 against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium.

Hudson's wife gave birth to the couple's third daughter on Friday in Phoenix. The birthing process took longer than anticipated, Nationals manager Dave Martinez said, forcing the team to temporarily replace Hudson with right-handed reliever Wander Suero on its postseason roster. Hudson is expected back for Game 2.

In the meantime, a Nationals team with an exceedingly volatile bullpen must scramble to fill the void.

Veteran lefty Sean Doolittle, the only other reliever who has earned Martinez's trust in high-leverage situations, will close if a save situation arises in Game 1. Right-handers Tanner Rainer (3.91 ERA in 48 1/3 innings in the regular season) and Fernando Rodney (5.66 ERA in 47 2/3 innings) will take on more important roles.

"Hey, family's always first. I get it. I understand," Martinez said, recalling his conversation with Hudson. "The timing didn't work out like we thought. The baby wasn't ready to come out. He'll get back when he gets back."

Left-hander Roenis Elias was added to the NLCS roster to give the Nationals a second lefty out of the bullpen, but Elias had reserve splits this season, which means he was more effective against righties than lefties. Suero was on the Nationals' NL Division Series roster but has been designated as the one to come off when Hudson returns. Javy Guerra was added, basically at the expense of Hunter Strickland, in part because he can provide multiple innings out of the bullpen in a longer series.

The best-of-seven NLCS will make it far more difficult for Martinez to deploy his starting pitchers out of the bullpen like he did in a just completed NLDS triumph over the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Nationals' bullpen, with the highest ERA in the majors this season, will undoubtedly take on a larger role.

It will begin without the closer.

"We have enough weapons in that bullpen to hold off," Martinez said. "It's one game. We'll figure it out."

ST. LOUIS -- Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez has been creative in using his starting pitchers in relief this postseason, but don't look to see Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and Patrick Corbin in relief during the NLCS against the St. Louis Cardinals.

At least at the beginning of the series.

Scherzer, who will start Game 2 on Saturday, said before the series opener that he doesn't expect to be used in relief.

"In the seven-game series, the way you're set up, this is more like the regular season," Scherzer said. "You can't be coming out of the pen in the same form or fashion unless you're not going to be making your start. So, for me, it's probably just pitch Game 2 and then wait for my next start."

Scherzer started the wild-card game against the Milwaukee Brewers and threw 77 pitches, then he pitched one inning in relief in Game 2 of the NLDS against the Los Angeles Dodgers and struck out the side. He threw 109 pitches over seven innings in winning Game 4.

He even headed down to the bullpen when Game 5 went extra innings.

Scherzer said "my arm is hanging right now" after his Game 4 start and that he still felt sore on the plane ride back to Los Angeles. He felt better playing catch before Game 5.

"When I played catch that day, I went in with a 0% chance I was going to feel good -- knowing that the previous day on the flight out to Los Angeles I didn't feel good at all," Scherzer said. "And when I played catch I didn't have any red flags through the elbow, the shoulder and the back -- three main areas where I would be really concerned about for injury. Those actually felt pretty good."

He will start against the Cardinals on his regular four days of rest. Anibal Sanchez will start Game 1 and Strasburg will start Game 3.

Strasburg appeared in relief in the wild-card game and started Games 2 and 5 of the NLDS. Patrick Corbin threw 57 pitches in relief in Games 3 and 5, so he could be in line to start Game 4 against the Cardinals.

Scherzer, Strasburg and Corbin all ranked in the top 10 in the NL in ERA and 2-3-4 in strikeouts. The Nationals' bullpen, meanwhile, had the worst ERA ever for a playoff team.

The bullpen will be even more short-handed in Game 1 as closer Daniel Hudson will miss the game after his wife gave birth to a girl Friday morning.

Martinez laughed when told Scherzer had said he didn't expect to pitch in relief.

"So what he's saying is he doesn't want to pitch in the bullpen?" Martinez asked.

Martinez, however, didn't exactly rule out that possibility.

"I agree, we've got to get these guys ready to start their game, especially the first couple games here," Martinez said. "After that, anything can happen. But I'm excited that he's going to pitch Game 2, so let's get him ready for Game 2."

Scherzer missed most of July and August while battling back and shoulder injuries. He had a 5.16 ERA in September, but he held the Dodgers to one run in his Game 4 victory while striking out seven and allowing four hits.

"I feel healthy, feel great," Scherzer said. "Really recovered off of these injuries that I had in the middle of the year and made the progression back kind of all the way through September to get to this point where I really feel good about myself and what I can do with the baseball."

HOUSTON -- Houston Astros pitcher Zack Greinke once again didn't have much to say at the podium on Friday, so AJ Hinch is hoping his actions are little more compelling on the mound.

Hinch named the pensive Greinke as his Game 1 starter against the New York Yankees for the ALCS, which gets underway Saturday night at Minute Maid Park.

Greinke, 35, will be making his second postseason start for the Astros. He struggled in Game 3 of Houston's ALDS series against the Tampa Bay Rays, giving up six runs in 3 ⅔ innings. The Rays won that game, 10-3, which led Hinch to tab Game 1 starter Justin Verlander to start Game 4 on short rest.

Hinch is hoping this time will be different.

"As far as margin for error, he's got the same margin for error that he's had for having a league-leading ERA the last few years, approaching 20 wins and Cy Youngs," Hinch said. "And his margin for error the last hundred starts that he's made plus has been the same. What I've learned over the last few years here is every pitcher has a smaller margin for error than you can possibly imagine against elite teams."

Verlander will start Sunday's Game 2, this time with a full four days' rest, while red-hot Gerrit Cole will start Game 3 on Tuesday at Yankee Stadium. Cole won the clincher over the Rays on Thursday and has allowed just one run while striking out 25 over 15 ⅔ innings so far in the postseason.

Beyond that, Hinch is uncertain how his pitching plans will unfold. For all their talent, the Astros struggled to find a reliable fourth starter down the stretch of the regular season. Lefty Wade Miley had a 5.07 ERA after the All-Star break, while hard-throwing rookie Jose Urquidy lacks experience.

"Game 4, as you would imagine, will be [announced] based on how the first three go," Hinch said. "Three exceptional starting pitchers, and happy to line 'em up that way."

As for Greinke, once again he conducted a short, terse session with the media that lasted only a couple of minutes. When asked about the challenges that come with facing a power-packed lineup like the Yankees have, Greinke said, "A lot of good hitters. It's tougher to get good hitters out than not-as-good hitters."

The Yankees were scheduled to work out in Houston later Friday afternoon. Manager Aaron Boone is expected to discuss his pitching plans at that time.

HOUSTON -- With plenty of rest before the onset of the American League Championship Series, New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone could have set up his starting rotation however he wanted to. His final decision: Righty Masahiro Tanaka will start Game 1 against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park.

Boone was circumspect about his reason.

"I felt like it was a good decision," Boone said. "Tough one to be made but similar to the division series, where I was going back and forth a lot. Just felt like Masa here in Game 1 is the way I wanted to go in the end."

Boone's decision essentially flips the top two in New York's rotation from what the Yankees featured during a three-game sweep of the Minnesota Twins in the ALDS. Lefty James Paxton started the first game of that series at Yankee Stadium, going 4 2/3 innings, while Tanaka got the nod in Game 2, holding the Twins to one run over five innings.

Boone said Paxton will start Game 2 on Sunday in Houston, followed by Luis Severino in Game 3 on Tuesday at Yankee Stadium. Similar to Houston manager A.J. Hinch, Boone said his Game 4 starter is to be determined. As for his Game 1 assignment, Tanaka says he is prepared.

"The team told me that I'm pitching Game 1 before we left New York," Tanaka said through an interpreter. "As far as facing the Houston lineup, obviously it's going to be a challenge. But you try not to do anything sort of different going into the game. You prepare for it. You make your plans, and basically you go out there and execute."

In the Astros, the Yankees will be facing another elite offensive team in the AL this season, after dispatching the high-scoring Twins in the last round. The Yankees led the league in runs (943), followed by the Twins (939) and Astros (920). The Astros were particularly potent at home, scoring 58 more runs than on the road.

Tanaka has struggled previously at Minute Maid Park, going 0-1 with a 5.73 ERA over four outings. He split two decisions during the Yankees' memorable ALCS showdown against the Astros in 2017, dropping Game 1 at Houston and winning Game 5 in New York. Houston won that series 4-3 en route to its first World Series title.

"One thing I can say is that we've been here in 2017," Tanaka said. "We know what it's like in here. So I think that experience will definitely help going into the game."

Tanaka will face Astros righty Zack Greinke in Game 1. Houston will follow Greinke with its co-aces, righty Justin Verlander in Game 2 and righty Gerrit Cole in Game 3. Between them, Verlander and Cole had three outings during Houston's ALCS win over the Rays of seven innings or more.

Conversely, Tanaka's five-inning start against Minnesota was the longest outing by a Yankees starter in that series. That outlines one of the big contrasts between the two best regular-season teams in the AL this season: the Astros' powerful rotation against the deep Yankees bullpen on which Boone relies so heavily.

"It's clear the bullpens will have to get important outs," Boone said. "You would expect some close games, games that come down to the end, where if you're going to be able to win a ball game you're going to have to close it out.

"Obviously we lean on our bullpen heavily, even though starting pitching is obviously very important. If you're going to get where you want to go, you've got to get good starts out of it, as well."

Boone hopes the first of his good starts will come from Tanaka on Saturday.

European record-holder among athletes asked about banned coach Alberto Salazar at pre-event press conference

Britain’s Mo Farah and Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei will defend their titles when the 42nd Bank of America Chicago Marathon takes place on Sunday.

Farah ran a European record of 2:05:11 to win the race last year and is hoping for faster this weekend but faces a tough challenge as part of a strong field.

Rivals include his former training partner Galen Rupp and Dickson Chumba, who won in Chicago in 2017 and 2015 respectively, plus reigning Boston Marathon champion Lawrence Cherono.

With both Cherono and Ethiopia’s Asefa Mengstu having clocked 2:04:06, Chumba having run 2:04:32 and Ethiopia’s Seifu Tura having a best of 2:04:44, Farah finds himself only fifth fastest on paper although he was in a similar position last year.

Belgium’s Bashir Abdi, who is one of Farah’s training partners, has run 2:07:03, while the field also features Kenya’s Bedan Karoki, a 2:06:48 marathoner.

“Winning the Chicago Marathon last year was very special for me,” said the Briton. “It was my first time to win a World Marathon Major and my time was a European and British record.

“I am looking forward to returning in 2019 to defend my title on the streets of Chicago.”

Farah warmed up for Chicago by winning the Simplyhealth Great North Run last month and the women’s winner on Tyneside that day was Kosgei.

Also the Virgin Money London Marathon winner this year, Kosgei is up against American marathon debut record-holder Jordan Hasay and 2018 Paris Marathon winner Betsy Saina, plus Ethiopia’s 2015 world silver medallist Gelete Burka.

Ireland’s Fionnuala McCormack is also in action after her 11th-place finish in Boston earlier this year.

USA’s Daniel Romanchuk and Tatyana McFadden, Switzerland’s Manuela Schär and Britain’s David Weir, Simon Lawson, Johnboy Smith and Rob Smith are among the wheelchair racing entries.

Much of the pre-race discussion had focused on Alberto Salazar, with the Nike Oregon Project head coach having recently been banned for four years for anti-doping rule violations.

News followed that the Oregon Project was set to “wind down … to allow the athletes to focus on their training and competition needs”.

With both Rupp and Hasay having been Nike Oregon Project athletes and Farah having been among Salazar’s group based in Portland between 2011 and 2017, questions about the coach were asked during the pre-race press opportunity on Friday, with Farah telling reporters: “It’s not about Mo Farah. This is about Alberto Salazar.”

He added: “I have not done anything wrong. These allegations are about Alberto Salazar.”

“It’s not about Mo Farah this is about Alberto Salazar”
Here’s some more from a defiant Mo Farah after being repeatedly asked whether he’s disappointed in his former coach pic.twitter.com/Y4rQFNAfXi

— Dan Roan (@danroan) October 11, 2019

Rupp told reporters: “I’m focused on the race. I will reiterate that no Oregon Project athlete has ever tested positive, they have never been found to use a banned substance or a banned method and that point is something that I definitely want to reiterate. I love running. I’m here to race.”

Galen Rupp says he found out about the Alberto Salazar ban on the news like everyone else and has not read the USADA report. pic.twitter.com/VLQIbCe7Zx

— Chris Chavez (@ChrisChavez) October 11, 2019

Salazar has denied any wrongdoing and is appealing against his ban.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Two course workers were injured Friday morning during the Chattanooga (Tenn.) MotorCar Festival.

The injuries occurred at the time trial track after a car experienced a mechanical failure that resulted in contact with a barrier. The incident took place around 9:30 a.m. according to the Chattanooga Times Free Press.

The two track workers were taken to a local hospital for medical attention and a staff member from the MotorCar Festival is at the hospital monitoring the situation.

“We are deeply saddened by this incident,” read a statement from event organizers. “It is common practice after any incident to do a safety sweep of the course, which could take several hours, and we are working closely with investigators to determine the exact cause. While the time trial course will be shut down until further notice, other festival events will continue as planned. We remain committed to doing everything necessary to ensure the safety of everyone involved in this event and will share more details as we have them.”