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Wednesday, 20 August 2003
Football Association International Friendly Match

England 3 Croatia 1 [1-0]
 

Portman Road, Handford, Ipswich, Suffolk
Attendance: 28,700
; Kick-off: 8:00pm BST;
Live on Sky Sports (UK) - Commentator: Martin Tyler

England - David Beckham (penalty 10 9:04), Michael Owen (seven-yard header from a Beckham cross 51 50:26), Frank Lampard (twenty-five yard shot 80 79:20).
Croatia - Ivića Mornar (seventeen-yard rebound shot 77 76:54)
Match Summary
England Squad

Croatia Squad
Results 2000-2005 Croatia - Niko Kovac (11), Robert Kovac (63)
England - Steven Gerrard (67)

England kicked-off. 99 minutes (49 & 50).

 

Match Summary

Officials from Denmark

England

Type

Croatia

Referee (black) - Claus Bo Larsen
38, (28 October 1965), Odense, FIFA-listed 1996.

Assistant Referees - Finn Erik Rasmussen and Ole Hansen, 40 (27 June 1963).

Fourth official - Barry Knight, England.
 
Guest of honour is Sir Bobby Robson.

A minute's silence is observed before the match and black armbands are worn in honour of Ray Harford, a former England U21 manager, and Jimmy Davis, a England youth player, who both died earlier this month.

  Goal Attempts  
  Attempts on Target  
  Hit Bar/Post  
  Corner Kicks Won  
  Offside Calls Against  
  Fouls Conceded  
  Possession  

England Team

 

Rank:

FIFA (30th July 2003) 10th
EFO ranking Group 1 (4th)

ELO rating 5th
Colours: The 2003 home shirt - White collared shadow hooped jerseys with white collar/cuffs trimmed with navy, red v-neck/panel thinning down sleeves, white shorts with red thinning side panel and blue hem, white socks with navy hoop.
Capt: David Beckham, 25th captaincy Head Coach: Sven-Göran Eriksson, 55 (5 February 1948), appointed 30 October 2000, took post 12 January 2001, 
30th match, W 17 - D 9 - L 4 - F 58 - A 28.
England Lineup
1 James, David B., off 46th min. 33 1 August 1970 G

West Ham United FC

17 11 ᵍᵃ
2 Neville, Philip J., off 81st min. 26 21 January 1977 RB Manchester United FC 41 0
3 Cole, Ashley, off 60th min. 22 20 December 1980 LB Arsenal FC 20 0
4 Gerrard, Steven G., off 81st min. 23 30 May 1980 LM Liverpool FC 19 3
Gerrard cautioned in the 67th minute for Unsporting Behaviour.
5 Ferdinand, Rio G., off 60th min. 24 7 November 1978 CD Manchester United FC 33 0
6 Terry, John G. 22 7 December 1980 CD Chelsea FC 2 0
7 Beckham, David R.J., off 60th min.  28 2 May 1975 RM Real Madrid CF, Spain 61 12 (4)
the 62nd penalty kick scored
8 Scholes, Paul, off 60th min. 28 16 November 1974 CM Manchester United FC 58 13
9 Heskey, Emile W.I., off 76th min. 25 11 January 1978 F Liverpool FC 35 5
10 Owen, Michael J., off 60th min. 23 14 December 1979 F Liverpool FC 51 23
11 Butt, Nicholas, injured off 27th min. 28 21 January 1975 CM Manchester United FC 28 0
England Substitutes
scoreline: England 1 Croatia 0
16 Lampard, Frank J., on 27th min. for Butt 25 20 June 1978 CM

Chelsea FC

12 1
13 Robinson, Paul W., on 46th min. for James 23 15 October 1979 G Leeds United AFC 3 2 ᵍᵃ
scoreline: England 2 Croatia 0
18 Dyer, Kieron C., on 60th min. for Owen 24 29 December 1978 CM Newcastle United FC 17 0
19 Cole, Joseph J., on 60th min. for Scholes 21 8 November 1981 CM Chelsea FC 11 1
15 Upson, Matthew J., on 60th min. for Ferdinand 24 18 April 1979 CD Birmingham City FC 4 0
14 Bridge, Wayne M., on 60th min. for A.Cole 23 5 August 1980 LB Chelsea FC 13 0
21 Sinclair, Trevor L., on 60th min. for Beckham 30 2  March 1973 RM Manchester City FC 12 0
20 Beattie, James S., on 76th min. for Heskey 25 27 February 1978 F Southampton FC 3 0
scoreline: England 3 Croatia 1
12 Mills, Daniel J., on 81st min. for Neville 26 18 May 1977 RB Leeds United AFC 18 0
17 Murphy, Daniel B., on 81st min. for Gerrard 26 18 March 1977 LM Liverpool FC 8 1
result: England 3 Croatia 1

unused substitutes:

22-Chris Kirkland.

team notes:

David Beckham's penalty was the tenth successive converted kick scored, extending the record.
Frank Lampard is the twelfth capped player to score his first goal as a substitute.
 
1st     4-4-2 James -
Neville, Terry, Ferdinand, A.Cole -
Beckham, Butt (Lampard), Scholes, Gerrard -
Owen, Heskey.
2nd   4-4-2 Robinson -
Neville (Mills), Terry, Ferdinand (Upson), A.Cole (Bridge) -
Beckham (Sinclair), Lampard, Scholes (J.Cole), Gerrard
(Murphy) -
Owen
(Dyer), Heskey (Beattie).

Averages (Starting XI):

Age 25.6 Appearances/Goals 33.2 4.9

 

Croatia Team

 

Rank:

FIFA (30th July 2003) 25th
EFO ranking Group 4

ELO rating 19th to 18th
Colours: Made by Nike - Blue collared jerseys with red and white chequered sleeves/collar and white thinning side trim, blue shorts with white flash, blue socks with white/red trim;
Capt: Boris Zivković Manager: Otto Barić, 70 (19 June 1933 in Austria), appointed 12 July 2002
11th match, W 5 - D 4 - L 2 - F 14 - A 9.
Croatia Lineup
1 Pletikosa, Stipe, off 70th min. 23 8 January 1979 G

HNK Hajduk Split SDD

32 0
2 Šimić, Dario, off 46th min. 27 12 November 1975 RM AC Milan, Italy 58 1
3 Šimunić, Josép, off 72nd min. 25 18 February 1978
born in Australia
LB Hertha, Berliner SC von 1892, Germany 16 0
4 Kovač, Robert 29 6 April 1974
born in West Germany
CD FC Bayern München, Germany 29 0
Kovač cautioned in the 63rd minute for Unsporting Behaviour.
5 Zivković, Boris, off 72nd min. 27 15 November 1975 LM Portsmouth FC, England 27 2
6 Tomas, Stjepan 28 6 March 1975 RB Fenerbahçe SK, Turkey on loan from Como Calcio, Italy 28 1
7 Rapaić, Milan, off 46th min. 29 16 August 1973 AM HNK Hajduk Split SDD 34 5
8 Leko, Jerko, off 59th min. 23 9 April 1980 CM FC Dinamo Kyiv, Ukraine 10 1
9 Kovač, Niko 31 15 October 1971
born in West Germany
CM Hertha, Berliner SC von 1892, Germany 29 3
Kovač cautioned in the 11th minute for Unsporting Behaviour after clattering Nicky Butt.
10 Marić, Marijo, off 46th min. 26 12 January 1977 F FC Kaleg Kärnten, Austria 5 1
11 Olić, Ivića 23 14 September 1979 F PFC Central Sport Club of the Army, Moskva, Russia 14 3
Croatia Substitutes
scoreline: England 1 Croatia 0
14 Babić, Marko, on 46th min. for Marić 22 28 January 1981 M Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Germany 9 0
15 Srna, Darijo/Dario, on 46th min. for Šimić 21 1 May 1982 M

FC Shakhtar Donetsk, Ukraine

8 1
18 Mornar, Ivića, on 46th min. for Rapaić 29 12 January 1974 M RSC Anderlecht, Belgium 10 1
scoreline: England 2 Croatia 0
17 Rosso, Ðovani, on 59th min. for Leko 30 17 November 1972 M Maccabi Haifa FC, Israel 6 0
12 Butina, Tomislav, on 70th min. for Pletikosa 29 30 March 1974 G Club Brugge KV, Belgium 10 0
16 Agić, Jasmin, on 72nd min. for Zivković 28 26 December 1974 M FK Dinamo Zagreb 12 0
13 Šerić, Anthony, on 72nd min. for Šimunić 24 15 January 1979
born in Australia
LB SSD Parma Calcio 1913, Italy 11 0
result: England 3 Croatia 1
unused substitutes: none
team notes: Robert and Niko Kovac are brothers.
 
3-5-2 Pletikosa (Butina) -
Tomas,
R.
Kovač, Šimunić (Šerić)
Šimi
ć (Babic), Leko (Rosso), Rapaić (Srna), N.Kovač, Zivković (Agić) -
Mari
ć (Mornar), Olić.

Averages (Starting XI):

Age 26.5 Appearances/Goals 25.6 1.5

 

    Match Report  (Mike Payne's exclusive report coming shortly)

David Beckham marked his return to England duty after moving to Real Madrid by inspiring Sven-Göran Eriksson's side to victory against Croatia.  Captain Beckham gave England an early lead from the penalty spot and set up Michael Owen's header for the second before being substituted to a standing ovation at Portman Road.  But England coach Eriksson will not have been totally satisfied by another uncertain defensive display on a night when the over-reliance on Beckham and Owen was emphasised once more.

Croatia had a succession of opportunities to punish England in the first half, only to be denied by goalkeeper David James.  Ivića Mornar pulled a goal back for Croatia late on, only for substitute Lampard to wrap up England's win with a spectacular long-range strike.

But Eriksson has much to work on defensively before England embark on their crucial Euro 2004 qualifiers in the coming months.  Beckham crowned his return to international service by putting England ahead from the penalty spot after only eight minutes.  It was a nightmare moment for Croatia defender Josip Simunic, who inexplicably handled Beckham's cross under little pressure from the lurking Owen.

Beckham dispatched the penalty with customary expertise - but it was the high spot of a dismal first 45 minutes for England.  England's defence, with John Terry making his first start, was constantly exposed by Croatia, particularly on the left flank as Ashley Cole was left constantly isolated.  The cause was not helped by an injury to Nicky Butt, which saw him replaced by Lampard after only 26 minutes.

And it was only an excellent display from goalkeeper James that kept England on level terms at the interval.  Ivića Olic's cross was headed over by Milan Rapaic, and James was forced to plunge bravely at Olic's feet as Croatia threatened again.

England had a double escape nine minutes before the break as Croatia exerted almost total supremacy.  James saved brilliantly from Marijo Maric's header, and then reacted to save well from Olic after Beckham's attempted back-pass fell desperately short.

Eriksson's concern was reflected in only a single half-time change, with the over-worked James being replaced by Leeds United's Paul Robinson.  England responded by doubling their advantage after 50 minutes - when their dependence on world class duo Beckham and Owen was demonstrated again.  Beckham delivered the perfect cross from the right flank and Owen arrived unmarked at the far post to bury a decisive header.

It was the signal for Eriksson to make his usual wholesale changes as he introduced five substitutes, with goalscorers Beckham and Owen among those taken off.  Southampton's James Beattie got his chance with 15 minutes left when Emile Heskey ended another scoreless international night by limping off injured.

Croatia deservedly got on the scoresheet three minutes later when Mornar scored from close range.  But England bounced back in style to wrap things up after 80 minutes minutes left, Lampard sending a 25-yard drive into the top corner.

Source Notes

BBC Sport
TheFA.com
SkySports.com/football
UEFA.com

____________________

CG