England vs Croatia LIVE: Euro 2020 result and reaction from Group D fixture today
Croatia #Croatia
A win for either team will set them up as favourites to top the group – though whether that actually turns out to be desirable will become apparent only in a couple of weeks, as it could pit Group D’s finest against the likes of Portugal, France or Germany.
Kieran Trippier was the headline selection choice from Southgate with the Atletico Madrid defender somewhat surprisingly lining up at left-back. Captain Harry Kane started up front with Raheem Sterling chosen ahead of Jack Grealish, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho, with the Borussia Dortmund star left out of the matchday squad entirely.
Euro 2020 England vs Croatia
Euro 2020: England 1-0 Croatia 15:42 , Emmet Gates
85’: Croatia bring on attacking midfielder Mario Pasalic as they are now going all out in an attempt to gain something from the game.
Croatia definitely seeing more of the ball in the last 10 minutes, but England can hit on the counter through Rashford and Bellingham.
Euro 2020: England 1-0 Croatia 15:40 , Emmet Gates
81’: Gareth Southgate ready to bring on Jude Bellingham with 10 minutes remaining. The 17-year-old replaces Harry Kane.
What a rise Bellingham has had over the last 12 months, from Birmingham City to the Euros, via a big money move to Borussia Dortmund.
Can England get a second to settle the match? Or will Croatia get a late equaliser?
Euro 2020: England 1-0 Croatia 15:35 , Emmet Gates
78’: Croatia now ringing the changes in an attempt to snatch something from this game. Rebic has gone off for Bruno Petkovic. Petkovic is a very physical striker, so you’d imagine the game plan is to send a flurry of crosses into the box.
Euro 2020: England 1-0 Croatia 15:32 , Emmet Gates
73’: Another chance for England, but Sterling lashes at the knocked down ball just inside the Croatia penalty area. Sterling was unmarked, and had time to compose himself, but instantly sliced across it, sending the ball up and over the goal.
John Stones has gone down with a problem.
Euro 2020: England 1-0 Croatia 15:24 , Emmet Gates
65’: A half-chance for Milan striker Ante Rebic, but he snatches at it from inside the England box. England then immediately go up the other end and win a free kick in a dangerous area after Mason Mount was hauled down from Brozovic after the Inter midfielder was dispossessed. Mount’s resulting free kick narrowly skim the roof of the net.
It appears as if Marcus Rashford could be coming on.
Euro 2020: England 1-0 Croatia 15:19 , Emmet Gates
61’: Harry Kane could’ve made it 2-0, as he got on the end of Mason Mount’s teasing cross, but Kane’s shot ballooned over the bar, and the Tottenham striker fell into the post, hurting himself in the process.
Thankfully, Kane is now up and back on his feet. That was a real chance for England to double their advantage.
GOAL! England 1-0 Croatia (Sterling, 56’) ⚽ 15:16 , Emmet Gates
56’: Just when we thought that Croatia were starting to exert control, England take the lead!
Their first goal of Euro 2020 goes to Raheem Sterling, who has been one of their best player. Kalvin Phillips produced a lovely bit of play down the right-hand side of the Croatia half. Phillips skipped past a couple of Croatia players, before sliding a through ball into the path of Sterling, who made the forward run into the penalty box.
Sterling’s shot goes under the goalkeeper. And England lead 1-0.
Euro 2020: England 0-0 Croatia 15:12 , Emmet Gates
54’: Croatia starting to exert some control now of the game. Modric, Perisic and Brozovic all now starting to get more time on the ball, and engineering opportunities.
Modric tested Jordan Pickford from distance, but it was a comfortable save for the Everton goalkeeper. But England haven’t picked up from the very bright start to the game. Jack Grealish could make an entrance soon.
Euro 2020: England 0-0 Croatia 15:05 , Emmet Gates
47’: First yellow card of the game goes to Real Madrid midfielder Kovacic, for a crunching tackle on Mason Mount in the middle of the pitch.
Thankfully Mount gets straight up again and appears to be fine.
Euro 2020: England 0-0 Croatia (second half kick-off) 15:01 , Emmet Gates
46’: Second half kicks off. No changes for either side.
Will England start the second half like they did the first?
Euro 2020: England 0-0 Croatia 14:58 , Emmet Gates
Some stats from the first half:
Shots on target – 1-1
Shots off target – 2-1
Possession – 59% – 41%
England fans boo players taking a knee 14:56 , Ben Burrows
A section of England supporters booed the taking of the knee ahead of the game at Wembley before being drowned out by fellow fans.
The anti-racism gesture was booed at both of England’s warm-up games at Middlesbrough’s Riverside Stadium over the past two weeks, leading Gareth Southgate to speak out in defence of his players and even write an open letter to fans calling for the country to come together.
However some of the 22,500 supporters at Wembley did boo before they were drowned out by cheers and applause.
Watch: England fans boo team before being drowned out by cheers at Euro 2020
Euro 2020: England 0-0 Croatia (Half time) 14:49 , Emmet Gates
Half time at Wembley.
A very bright start by the home side. England could’ve scored twice in the opening 10 minutes, as Croatia struggled with England’s pace down both wings. Foden hit the post with a delicious curling effort, and had he scored that, the first half would’ve played out a lot differently, you suspect.
Croatia slowly gained a foothold in the game, but haven’t really threatened the England defence. Perisic had Croatia’s best chance, but the Inter winger sliced across the ball, and it went well over the bar.
Gareth Southgate will hope his side can find the tempo and rhythm they showed in the opening quarter of the game, as the longer it remains 0-0, Croatia will feel emboldened to sneak a win.
Euro 2020: England 0-0 Croatia 14:44 , Emmet Gates
41’: A few minutes before the end of the first half. The wind has gone out of England’s sail. However they still look menacing when they attack Croatia.
Raheem Sterling’s pace has troubled the Croatia backline throughout the half, they’ve struggled to contain him. Sterling has dropped deep at times and ran at Vrsaljko time and again.
It’s quite telling of how quiet Harry Kane has been. The Tottenham striker has hardly had a kick of the ball in the opening 45 minutes.
Euro 2020: England 0-0 Croatia 14:37 , Emmet Gates
33’: Croatia slowly starting to gain a foothold in this game. Modric and Brozovic are beginning to see more of the ball, and with England not pressing as intensely as at the start of the game, it’s given the Croatians an opportunity to gain somewhat of a breather.
Also been some sloppy moments from Kyle Walker. England’s tempo has unquestionably dropped since the opening 20 minutes of the game. Foden now dropping deeper in search of the ball.
Euro 2020: England 0-0 Croatia 14:27 , Emmet Gates
27’: Half a chance for Croatia. A cross from the right-hand side goes across the box and lands at the feet of Ivan Perisic, but the winger slashes at the ball, and skews it over the bar.
Euro 2020: England 0-0 Croatia 14:26 , Emmet Gates
25’: Croatia slowly beginning to find their feet in this game, but England looks dangerous every time they venture forward.
Euro 2020: England 0-0 Croatia 14:19 , Emmet Gates
18’: Can England keep this tempo up? You fear they might not be able to, and if they don’t capitalise on their pressure, they could come to regret it.
Euro 2020: England 0-0 Croatia 14:13 , Emmet Gates
12’: This has been a very lively start from England, putting the Croatians under constant pressure, pressing very high up the pitch and not giving them any room to breathe.
Euro 2020: England 0-0 Croatia 14:09 , Emmet Gates
6’: England have started this game very strong. Raheem Sterling played a nice give-and-go with Mason Mount, but Sterling couldn’t get the ball from out of his feet, and he was smothered by the Croatia defence before he could get a shot off.
Euro 2020: England 0-0 Croatia 14:07 , Emmet Gates
5’: England hit the post! Brilliant from Phil Foden following an England counter attack. The Man City player cuts inside on his left foot and bends the ball into the opposite corner, but it smashes the base of the post, and the rebound evades everyone.
A great effort from the 20-year-old.
Euro 2020: England 0-0 Croatia 14:05 , Emmet Gates
3’: You wonder how long both teams can keep up a decent tempo in this heat.
28 degrees in London.
Euro 2020: England 0-0 Croatia 14:00 , Emmet Gates
1’: Kick-off!
Euro 2020: England vs Croatia 13:58 , Emmet Gates
Not long now to kick off. National anthems are over.
It’s a sweltering day in London.
Euro 2020: England vs Croatia 13:53 , Emmet Gates Euro 2020: England vs Croatia 13:40 , Emmet Gates
The last time England and Croatia faced each other at the Euros.
Wayne Rooney scored twice, with Paul Scholes and Frank Lampard getting the others, in a 4-2 win.
England finished second in the group, behind France, but advanced to the quarter final.
Euro 2020: England vs Croatia 13:25 , Emmet Gates
England boss Gareth Southgate has explained his reasoning behind the controversial omissions of Jadon Sancho and Bel Chilwell:
Southgate: “With the two boys that are out of the squad, it’s just unfortunate we can only name 23 and we’ve had to cover certain positions. I don’t like the fact we’re having to leave players out of the squad in a major tournament.”
Euro 2020: England vs Croatia 13:17 , Emmet Gates
This is the first time since Euro 1992 that England have lined up at a major international tournament without a player from Liverpool or Manchester United in the starting XI.
At Euro ‘92, then England boss Graham Taylor didn’t start a player from neither side in the opening two group stage games, against Denmark and France.
England didn’t win either game, nor did they manage to score a goal.
Euro 2020: England vs Croatia 13:01 , Emmet Gates
Croatia team news is now also in:
Croatia XI:
Livakovic; Gvardiol, Caleta-Car, Vida, Vrsaljko; Brozovic; Perisic, Kovacic, Modric, Kramaric; Rebic
There are six survivors from the Croatia side that started against England in the 2018 semi final, with Vida, Vrsaljko, Brozovic, Perisic, Modric and Rebic all in the starting XI today.
Kovacic and Kramaric, who came off the bench three years ago, are also in the starting XI today.
Euro 2020: England vs Croatia 12:47 , Emmet Gates
And the England team news is in!
England XI: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Mings, Trippier; Phillips, Rice; Sterling, Mount, Foden; Kane.
Gareth Southgate is going with a 4-2-3-1 system. Perhaps the biggest surprise is the absence of Manchester United defender Harry Maguire, who hasn’t even made the bench.
Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho and Chelsea’s Ben Chilwell also miss out on the squad, with Southgate opting to name both back-up goalkeepers on the bench.
No start for Jack Grealish either, after speculation that the Aston Villa forward could play from the beginning.
Harry Kane will lead the line as expected, with the striker among the favourites to land the golden shoe at the tournament.
Euro 2020: England vs Croatia 12:36 , Emmet Gates
Croatia captain Luka Modric says England have an ‘unfair advantage’ due to playing their group stage games at Wembley.
England will play each of their group stage games at Wembley, in addition to one of the semi finals and the final being hosted at the stadium, and Modric feels this gives England an advantage.
“Everyone would say teams at home with a crowd, that there is a slight advantage,” Modric told the BBC.
“It’s a shame there won’t be a lot of Croatia supporters because we always feel their presence when they are there.
“But it is how it is. We need to focus on the pitch and don’t get bothered about the environment.”
There will be a capacity of 22,500 allowed at Wembley for the opening two games of the group stage.
Modric however did praise the quality of the England side:
“I rate them very highly,” he added.
“For sure, they are one of the favourites for this tournament. That doesn’t mean we are not going there to try to play a great game and try to get a result.
“We have showed in the past we can do that and we know how to play against England. Hopefully we can show it again on Sunday.”
Euro 2020: England vs Croatia 12:28 , Emmet Gates
England vs Croatia: Head-to-head record
Games between these two sides aren’t very common.
Since Croatia gained independence in the mid 1990s, the pair have only met a total of 10 times.
Their first meeting was in April 1996, which ended in a 0-0 draw.
They didn’t meet again for a further seven years, when they squared off in an August friendly in 2003. England won 3-1, with goals coming from David Beckham, Michael Owen and Frank Lampard.
The first competitive clash between the two nations occurred at Euro 2004, when England won 4-2, including two goals from Wayne Rooney.
Croatia done the double over England in qualifying for Euro 2008, with the second game at Wembley particularly memorable for Scott Carson’s blunder. The defeat cost England a place at the tournament.
In 2018 they met three times, with the World Cup semi final being the most high profile of the three.
England wins: 5
Draws: 2
Croatia wins: 3
Euro 2020: England vs Croatia 12:15 , Emmet Gates
Luka Modric has taken aim at the English media, saying that it’s their ‘arrogance’, rather than the England players, that irks him.
The Real Madrid midfielder was angered by the comments in the build up to the 2018 World Cup semi final clash between the two nations.
Modric felt there was a certain lack of respect towards Croatia, who ultimately won the game in extra time and advanced to the final, where they faced France.
Speaking ahead of their clash today, Modric spoke on the issue again:
“That arrogance is not so much related to the players and to the national team but to the people around them,” the Real Madrid playmaker sought to clarify in his pre-match press conference.
“[It was or is more] some of the journalists and commentators. Recently I’ve not read many media outlets.
“I’m looking forward to the match and I don’t want to say too much about what’s on the other side.”
Euro 2020: England vs Croatia 12:03 , Lawrence Ostlere
Domagoj Bradaric’s stoppage-time goal hurt. England had only been a few minutes away from the two-goal win they required to salvage their wretched European Under-21 Championship campaign and avoid a fifth group stage exit in six attempts. Instead, they were going home and Croatia were progressing in their place.
Curtis Jones, scorer of what might have been England’s critical second goal, took exception to the jubilant Croatian celebrations at full time, spinning away from a member of Aidy Boothroyd’s coaching staff attempting to hold him back and jumping into the melee. The final whistle had already blown, of course, but that didn’t stop Jones from being sent off.
If you seek out footage of the brawl on YouTube, you will find more than a few comments rejoicing in England’s elimination, several of them ostensibly from Croatian users and uniting around a single theme. “It’s coming home, it’s coming,” the most popular of them reads, “the team bus comin’ home”.
That incident in Koper on Slovenia’s Adriatic coastline a little more than two months ago is the most recent flashpoint between two nations who have repeatedly run up against each other in international football over the past 17 years. One is old and established, the other young and emerging, and yet they have shared a lot of history together in a short space of time.
Did ‘it’s coming home’ really spark a new rivalry between England and Croatia?
Euro 2020: England vs Croatia 12:01 , Lawrence Ostlere
Our man on the ground Mark Critchley has made his way to Wembley, and it looks like a beautiful day for a game of football.
Euro 2020: England vs Croatia 11:56 , Lawrence Ostlere
The Football Association has called on England fans to “respect the wishes” of the decision of the players to take the knee ahead of their matches at the European Championship.
The Three Lions open their Group D campaign against Croatia at Wembley on Sunday, where 22,500 fans are anticipated to watch on from the stands.
England’s players have been taking the knee ahead of kick-off in recent months as a gesture against racism and inequality.
But the stance was jeered by a minority of fans in both of England’s Euro 2020 warm-up games at Middlesbrough’s Riverside Stadium – the first occasions the knee had been taken with supporters in attendance.
England boss Gareth Southgate and prime minister Boris Johnson have both called on spectators not to jeer the knee as the squad insist they will continue to do so no matter what the reaction.
Now the FA has underlined its stance and asked those with plans to boo the gesture to “reflect” on the image it would project and distanced the move from any political movement.
Euro 2020: England vs Croatia 11:47 , Lawrence Ostlere
Our chief football writer, Miguel Delaney, previews England’s tournament:
A mere three days before England’s opening match at Euro 2020, Gareth Southgate was still figuring out his first line-up. These were no straight personnel decisions, either. They were bigger. As late as Thursday, it was still possible that Southgate could go from a three-man central defence of Kyle Walker, John Stones and Luke Shaw, to the slight possibility of a two featuring Harry Maguire.
Perceptions of this thinking process will ultimately be dictated by the result against Croatia, but also residual feelings towards Southgate. For some in the game, it is a perfect indication of his “indecision”, his supposed “inability to judge a player”. For others in football who admire Southgate, it is the impressive flexibility that has elevated so many other elements of his management.
One thing can be said with certainty. There doesn’t currently feel a first XI that just naturally fits England’s abundant talent. Every possible line-up involves a significant compromise somewhere in the team. If you play that extra attacker that everyone demands, you expose the backline in a way that is almost certain to get you eliminated.
This is England, a united team playing for a divided country
Euro 2020: England vs Croatia 11:38 , Lawrence Ostlere
Jordan Pickford says he is relishing the battle to keep hold of the No1 jersey.
“Well, since my debut, really, it’s always been competitive and that’s what you want,” Pickford said. “You don’t want to be having an easy ride because, I don’t know, I just feel like if it’s an easy ride then you get complacent sometimes.
“Whereas you’ve got Popey [Nick Pope] – unfortunately he’s injured this camp and he’s been brilliant. Deano has come in the last few camps and Sam made his debut and his performance against Romania was brilliant. He made a match-winning save.
“So having that competition strives us all to be better as goalkeepers and the standards out there on the training pitch it’s unbelievable, really.”
Euro 2020: Eriksen ‘stable’ 11:31 , Lawrence Ostlere
Here is the latest on Christian Eriksen, who thankfully seems to be doing well after collapsing during Denmark’s game against Finland yesterday.
“This morning we have spoken to Christian Eriksen, who has sent his greetings to his teammates,” the Danish FA said. “We would like to thank everyone for the heartfelt greetings to Christian Eriksen from both fans, players, the royal families from both Denmark and England, international associations, clubs etc.”
Danish FA issues update with Christian Eriksen ‘stable’ in hospital
Euro 2020: England vs Croatia 11:21 , Lawrence Ostlere
Here’s my take on England expectations, which seem to have found a sweet spot between the crushing expectation of the golden generation years and the slght farce of the Hodgson era:
This time it feels different. There is not the heaving weight of the Lampard-Gerrard era, nor the sense of farce that seemed to come with the Hodgson-Hart years. It says something about the state of England right now that the biggest inconvenience to preparation was having too many players involved in the Champions League final. There is just enough lack of depth at centre-back to dampen expectation, just enough injury worry to keep sights firmly on the group stage and not beyond. But there is also enough footballing competence in this squad to be justifiably excited by the prospect of England in a major tournament, without the typical foreboding or dread.
Read the full story:
England stumble upon sweet spot of promise without expectation before Euro 2020
England team news 11:12 , Lawrence Ostlere
The early team news is all pointing towards this line-up for England today:
Pickford; Walker, Mings, Stones, Trippier; Rice, Phillips; Foden, Mount, Sterling; Kane.
It looks like a 4-2-3-1 with Kieran Trippier at left-back and that is certainly the biggest surprise. Some reports suggesting he is in there for taking set-pieces. A big call to leave both Luke Shaw and Ben Chilwell out of the side. Raheem Sterling is set to get the nod as one of Gareth Southgate’s trusted men, so Jack Grealish may have to make his impact from the bench.
England vs Croatia 10:54 , Ben Burrows
Good afternoon and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage as England start their Euro 2020 journey with their Group D opener against Croatia today, a rematch of the last meaningful game Gareth Southgate’s side played at a major finals – when they suffered defeat in the World Cup semi-final three years ago.
This time around the expectancy is on the Three Lions to be a more creative, expansive attacking outfit, given the likes of Jadon Sancho, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish have joined the squad. Southgate must pick and choose which are his most in-form options to get the victory which is required, as England look to make a positive start at the Championships.
With Scotland and Czech Republic still to come, it won’t be an easy passage through to the knock-out rounds for either of these sides if they slip up in the first game and leave themselves work to do.
Croatia come into Euro 2020 having picked up just two victories from their last nine games as Zlatko Dalic struggles to find the right balance in the team, but with the likes of Marcelo Brozovic, Mateo Kovacic and Luka Modric at the heart of the team, they will provide stern opposition all the same.
A win for either team will set them up as favourites to top the group – though whether that actually turns out to be desirable will become apparent only in a couple of weeks, as it could pit Group D’s finest against the likes of Portugal, France or Germany.
Follow all the updates from England vs Croatia live here.