The hosts with the decisive goal

Croatia opens EURO 2020: England wins at Wembley

13.06.2021.

Foto: Drago Sopta/HNS

For the first time in history, Croatia lost its opening European Championships game - on Sunday, England celebrated a 1:0 victory at Wembley Stadium.

ENGLAND - CROATIA 1:0 (0:0)
EURO 2020, Group D.
Wembley, London.

Referee: D. Orsato (Italy)

Goals: 1:0 - Sterling (57')

Cautions: Ćaleta-Car (42'), Kovačić (48'), Foden (64'), Brozović (66')

England: Pickford, Trippier, Mings, Stones, Walker, Rice, Phillips, Foden (71' Rashford), Mount, Sterling (90+2' Calvert-Lewin), Kane (82' Bellingham). Head coach: G. Southgate.

Croatia: Livaković, Gvardiol, Ćaleta-Car, Vida, Vrsaljko, Brozović (70' Vlašić), Kovačić (85' Pašalić), Modrić, Perišić, Kramarić (70' Brekalo), Rebić (78' Petković). Head coach: Z. Dalić.

Foto: Drago Sopta/HNS

Zlatko Dalić's men faced England in the opening game of EURO 2020 Group D, and have to try to reach the second round of the tournament through two remaining group stage matches.

The hosts failed to convert the best opportunity in the first half: six minutes gone, and Foden hit the woodwork. Soon after, Livaković saved Phillips' effort, and Trippier came close with a late free-kick. Croatia managed to threaten only when Perišić struck wide on 27 minutes.

Chances were few and far between in the second half as well, but England capitalized in 57th minute, when Phillips' pass found Sterling, who found the back of the net.

Later on, Kane could have scored, with Rebić and Brozović missing the target as Croatia was searching for an equalizer. In the dying seconds, an opportunity was presented to substitute Pašalić, but it went over the bar.

Scotland and Czech Republic meet on Monday, while Croatia continues its EURO 2020 adventure on Friday, against Czech Republic in Glasgow.

EURO 2020, Group D:
1. England 3 (1)
2. Czech Republic 0 (0)
3. Scotland 0 (0)
4. Croatia 0 (1)

Foto: Drago Sopta/HNS

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