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England’s Euro 2020 campaign got off to a satisfactory start with victory over Croatia at Wembley.
Raheem Sterling repaid England manager Gareth Southgate’s faith in him, sliding in the winner after 57 minutes following a perfect pass from man-of-the-match Kalvin Phillips.
Southgate resisted the temptation to play Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish and was rewarded with a lively performance from Sterling as England secured the win their superiority deserved.
The Three Lions almost took an early lead when Phil Foden struck a post but there were the first signs of frustration from fans and players just as Sterling made the decisive contribution with his first goal in a major tournament.
Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford was barely tested by a disappointing Croatia side, who never looked like repeating their victory over England in the 2018 World Cup semi-final in Moscow – leaving England with three points to take into Friday’s second Group D game against Scotland at Wembley.
More to follow.
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Line-ups
England
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Pickford
- 2Walker
- 5Stones
- 15Mings
- 12Trippier
- 14Phillips
- 4Rice
- 20FodenBooked at 64minsSubstituted forRashfordat 71′minutes
- 19Mount
- 10SterlingSubstituted forCalvert-Lewinat 90+2′minutes
- 9KaneSubstituted forBellinghamat 82′minutes
Substitutes
- 3Shaw
- 7Grealish
- 8Henderson
- 11Rashford
- 13Henderson
- 16Coady
- 18Calvert-Lewin
- 22White
- 23Johnstone
- 24James
- 25Saka
- 26Bellingham
Croatia
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Livakovic
- 2Vrsaljko
- 21Vida
- 5Caleta-CarBooked at 42mins
- 25Gvardiol
- 10Modric
- 11BrozovicBooked at 66minsSubstituted forVlasicat 70′minutes
- 8KovacicBooked at 48minsSubstituted forPasalicat 85′minutes
- 9KramaricSubstituted forBrekaloat 70′minutes
- 17RebicSubstituted forPetkovicat 78′minutes
- 4Perisic
Substitutes
- 7Brekalo
- 12L Kalinic
- 13Vlasic
- 14Budimir
- 15Pasalic
- 16Skoric
- 19Badelj
- 20Petkovic
- 22Juranovic
- 23Sluga
- 24Bradaric
- 26Ivanusec
Live Text
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Match ends, England 1, Croatia 0.
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Second Half ends, England 1, Croatia 0.
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Attempt missed. Mario Pasalic (Croatia) left footed shot from the centre of the box is just a bit too high.
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Substitution, England. Dominic Calvert-Lewin replaces Raheem Sterling.
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Jude Bellingham (England) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Domagoj Vida (Croatia).
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John Stones (England) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Duje Caleta-Car (Croatia).
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Substitution, Croatia. Mario Pasalic replaces Mateo Kovacic.
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Foul by Jude Bellingham (England).
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Luka Modric (Croatia) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Substitution, England. Jude Bellingham replaces Harry Kane.
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Foul by Kieran Trippier (England).
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Bruno Petkovic (Croatia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Raheem Sterling (England) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Nikola Vlasic (Croatia).
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Substitution, Croatia. Bruno Petkovic replaces Ante Rebic.
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Attempt missed. Raheem Sterling (England) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Tyrone Mings with a headed pass following a set piece situation.
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Harry Kane (England) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Duje Caleta-Car (Croatia).
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