Sunday, June 13, 2021 at 4:51 PM• Rian Rosendaal • Last update: 17:03

England have made an excellent start to the group stage of the European Championship. The formation of national coach Gareth Southgate, without the selected Jadon Sancho, showed good play at Wembley on Sunday afternoon and eventually deservedly won 1-0 against the somewhat poor Croatia. Raheem Sterling was the England team’s match winner in the second half with a goal from a smooth attack. It was the first time that the Manchester City winger was accurate at a European Championship or World Cup. It is also the first time that England has started a European Championship with a victory.

England soon took the lead at sun-drenched Wembley, with long shots from the industrious Phil Foden and the solid playing Kalvin Phillips. Foden was very close to the opening goal in the sixth minute, but the Manchester City playmaker was dismayed to see his swipe hit the post. Sterling, who created a lot of threat on the right wing, saw a shot from the side go wide. Attack leader Harry Kane did not appear much in the piece in the first half. In the 43rd minute, Kieran added Trippier for a free kick just outside the penalty area. In the 2018 World Cup semi-final, the left-back was still accurate, but this time his effort was stopped by the wall. Led by playmaker Luka Modric, the Croats only came out of England a little under the pressure of England in the final phase of the first company, without great opportunities.

The Croatian team tried to bite off a bit more after the break. However, a long shot from Modric in the 55th minute could not alarm goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. On the other hand, the opening goal of the fascinating encounter in London fell. Sterling went for the Croats’ goal after a clever cross pass from Phillips and the wing attacker could not be stopped by the outgoing goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic: 1-0. Sterling walked away cheering after his first goal in a final round and the 8,000 fans at Wembley were also delirious with joy. There was a slight panic at the home country moments later when Kane remained on the ground after missing a big chance at the near post. The Tottenham Hotspur attacker had unfortunately collided with the post, but to the relief of Southgate did not have to leave the side prematurely. Kane was also relieved in the final phase by Jude Bellingham, who at 17 years and 349 days is the youngest player ever to get playing time at a European Championship. He takes over the record from Jetro Willems. The left back was the youngest player at the European Championship of 2012 at 18 years and 71 days when he entered the final round in Poland and Ukraine with the the Dutch.

Croatia went on the hunt for the equalizer, but many chances were not captured by the losing 2018 World Cup finalist Ante Rebic shot wide and a bet from Mateo Kovacic was blocked in time by the English defence. Marcelo Brozovic seemed to get close to 1-1 with a bang from outside the penalty area, but this shot also did not go past Pickford into the goal. The same Brozovic was replaced shortly afterwards by Nikola Vlasic. On the English side, the tired Foden was relieved by Marcus Rashford. Sterling, who received a kind of public change from Southgate in injury time and was relieved by Dominic Calvert-Lewin, could have decided the game completely fifteen minutes before the end. However, his shot flew over the target. However, the miss had no consequences for England, who are taking revenge on the Croats for the defeat in the semi-final battle at the World Cup three years ago. Croatia was also unable to make a fist in the four minutes of added time, so that Modric and his associates start the European Championship with a painful defeat. England will resume the European Championship on Friday with the derby with Scotland at Wembley, while Croatia will face the Czech Republic that same day at Hampden Park in Glasgow.

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