RAHEEM STERLING netted his first ever goal at a major tournament as England beat Croatia at Wembley.
Gareth Southgate’s men went close early through Phil Foden, but it was his Man City teammate Sterling who stole the show with a well taken winner in the second half.
- Final score: England 1-0 Croatia
- Goalscorers: Sterling 57′ – WATCH HERE
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TRIPPER SELECTION JUSTIFIED
Many thought Southgate had got it wrong by selecting Tripper at left-back ahead of the actual left-backs Ben Chilwell and Luke Shaw.
But the Atletico Madrid man had a decent game.
Speaking about Tripper, Southgate said: “We felt that his talking across the backline and his ability to get out and stop crosses quickly and his experience on a day like today – alongside Tyrone Mings, who is relatively early in his international career – would be a good stabilising element.
“He is a very underrated player. People are still looking at the player from a few years ago and not at the one who is at Atletico Madrid and playing like a warrior in the last few seasons.
“He is a big part of what we’ve done over the last few years and he gave a really good performance.”
MORE FROM MATCHWINNER STERLING
“It’s a great feeling for me playing at Wembley, not far from where I grew up as a young boy and seeing the stadium being built.
“I thought the team played brilliantly at times. We dug in.”
ENGLAND CAPTAIN HARRY KANE
England boss Gareth Southgate speaks!
“It’s lovely to have given our fans and our country a really enjoyable afternoon. The players dealt with the big occasion really well. Right from the start, incredible heat, they played well and settled early in the game.
“There were moments where the tempo dropped because of the heat but the majority of the game we were in control and didn’t give Croatia many opportunities and we looked dangerous.
“Kalvin Phillips is a player who is so understated. He has had a fantastic start to his international career. I thought he was immense throughout the game – as they all were – and I’m so pleased for Raheem.
“He was dangerous all game His goalscoring record suggests we should have faith in him and I think he was motivated t show that.
“We are going to need all those attacking players through the tournament. We can make changes and we will need to.
“The key was to get pressure on Croatia’s midfield players and we managed to do that. That limited some of the supply and the defenders dealt with the longer balls well and read the game well.
“It was a day when everybody who got onto the pitch performed well and that was set up by the whole group.”
RAZ THAT
Sterling scored the only goal of the game and depend his Euros account!
PHILLIPS HIGHLIGHTS STRONG MIDFIELD
Man of the match Phillips highlighted England’s midfield in his post-match press conference.
He said: “I love playing with Declan [Rice] and having a bit of licence to get forward.
“I know that he’s behind me, backing me up if I lose the ball.
“There was a lot of talk about us fighting for one position but I think we play really well together.”
Rice sitting in front of the back four gave Phillips and Mount the license to roam.
And it worked a treat; Modric didn’t have an impact!
MOUNT MAP
Mount played on the left side of the midfield and he was class. Alongside Phillips, his relentless pressing was key.
MINGS SPEAKS
Mings was called in to replace Maguire who isn’t fully fit and he played an absolute blinder.
Speaking to the BBC, he said: “It’s a dream come true to play in a major tournament for England, and I loved every second of it.
“It’s probably the hottest game I’ve played in, but the team showed a lot of grit, determination and quality, and we’re over the moon with the start.
“They’re a top team and it was good for us to repel their threat. Equally we always have the quality to trouble teams.
“I can’t even remember the goal if I’m honest!
“I know Kalvin [Phillips] put in a lot of good work and Raz [Raheem Sterling] has got the quality and composure in front of goal, as he’s showed many times.”
Credit: GETTY IMAGES FULL-TIME STATS
England dominated from minute one!
MAN OF THE MATCH
Man of the match goes to Kalvin Phillips hands down! He was absolutely phenomenal in a slightly advanced role.
Keep the midfield the same for Scotland, Southgate!
STERLING SPEAKS
Goal-scorer Sterling spoke to the BBC after his goal won England the game.
He said: “I always said that if I ever play at Wembley in a major tournament, I’m going to score.
“It’s my back garden, I had to score.
“There’s a lot of different reasons why I haven’t scored for my club, and that’s totally irrelevant now.
“I’m here with England, I’m enjoying my football and I’m just delighted to score. It was a lovely weighted pass from Kalvin [Phillips].
SCENES
England fans enjoyed Sterling’s goal!
FT: ENGLAND 1-0 CROATIA
Brilliant second half performance from England and it was Wembley local Sterling who got the goal.
Phillips made a darting run forward, showed some good skill to cut inside and teed up Sterling.
And the Man City man made no mistake with the finish.
Kane had the chance to put England two goals clear, but he failed to convert at the far post.
As for Croatia, they were relatively quiet and it was England’s game from minute one.
Off to a winning start at the Euros, England’s first in ten attempts!
HAVE YOUR SAY
PEEEEEEEEEEEP!
THE FULL-TIME WHISTLE GOES AT WEMBLEY!
ENGLAND GET OFF TO A WINNING START!
ENGLAND 1-0 CROATIA
90+4. A long throw falls to Pasalic at the back post, but the former Chelsea fan slices his shot over the bar.
Game over!
ENGLAND 1-0 CROATIA
90+2. A long ball is played into England’s penalty area and Perisic heads the ball across the face of goal.
Petkovic tries to get on the end of the flick on but Pickford pounces on the ball.
ENGLAND 1-0 CROATIA
90+1. SUBSTITUTION!
England are making their last change of the game, and Calvert-Lewin is on for Sterling.
ENGLAND 1-0 CROATIA
90. The fourth official holds his board up and there will be four additional minutes played.
ENGLAND 1-0 CROATIA
88. Croatia need to throw everything at England now.
ENGLAND 1-0 CROATIA
86. In the crucial final minutes of the game, and England need to get their game management spot on.
Sterling does just that as he holds off the challenge of Brekalo close to the byline to see the ball behind for an England goal-kick.
Sterling slices a shot over the crossbarCredit: AFP
ENGLAND 1-0 CROATIA
84. SUBSTITUTION!
Pasalic is coming on for Croatia for the fine five minutes or so, and he is replacing Kovacic.
ENGLAND 1-0 CROATIA
82. Bellingham nips the ball away from Modric and lays it into the path of Sterling.
The goal-scorer plays a quick ball in behind for Rashford to run onto, but Livakovic gathers.
ENGLAND 1-0 CROATIA
81. SUBSTITUTION!
Kane is taken off for a rest and 17-year-old Jude Bellingham is on at the Euros!
ENGLAND 1-0 CROATIA
80. Modric is looking a frustrated figure, no matter where he finds himself on the pitch he is tracked by one of England’s midfield three.
In this case, Mount doesn’t let him out of his sight.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
