Euro 2020: Sterling steers England past Croatia

ENGLAND opened their European Championship campaign on Sunday with a 1-0 win over Croatia.

Playing before fans mostly rooting for them at Wembley Stadium in London, England got the victory through Raheem Sterling’s second-half strike.

It is the first time ever England have won their opening game of a European Championship tournament.

The Three Lions were without the recovering Harry Maguire and Jordan Henderson but started brightly and could have been ahead within the first five minutes.

The England midfield trio of Declan Rice, Kalvin Phillips and Mason Mount held their own against Croatia’s vastly experienced middlemen Luka Modric, Marcelo Brozovic and Mateo Kovacic, and played a big part in the impressive start.

Phil Foden and Sterling came close in those opening stages before Croatia settled into the game and contained the marauding Englishmen.

However, England were in front early in the second half, Sterling running onto a brilliant Phillips pass to finish from inside the box in the 57th minute.

The Manchester City forward had struggled up until that moment but he took the goal well, which was his first for his country at a major tournament.

Croatia laboured to get back into the game and made several changes, but they hardly threatened England.

The Three Lions then made a bit of history when Jude Bellingham was introduced as replacement for Harry Kane in the 82nd minute.

The 17-year-old Borussia Dortmund midfielder became the youngest player ever to feature in the European Championship.

England’s next fixture is against neighbours Scotland on Friday, the same day Croatia battle Czech Republic.