Match Summary

England Team

Croatia Team

Match Report by Mike Payne

All the pre-match questions as to whether England could qualify for the World Cup against Croatia were answered emphatically with a scintillating performance at Wembley.  England are most definitely on their way to South Africa!

Right from the first whistle England were on their game.  They pressed the Croatians into their own half and all the home players looked full of determination and running.  It took just seven minutes to unlock the visiting defence.  Aaron Lennon’s pace had already frightened the Croatians and when the Tottenham winger cut inside across the edge of the box Josip Simonic’s clumsy challenge gave the referee his easiest decision of the night.  Penalty!  Up stepped Frank Lampard with an exact replica of his penalty goal against Slovenia four days earlier.

That was just the start England wanted, but they did not take their foot off the pedal for a moment and in the first half alone they could have scored six goals.  Steven Gerrard headed Wayne Rooney’s cross over, Gareth Barry hit a screamer that was very well saved by Vedran Runje, diving to his right, and then on seventeen minutes Gerrard’s pass found Lennon on the right and his cross to the far post was met by the incoming Liverpool captain who scored with a glorious header to make it 2-0.

The opening twenty minutes had been superb by England and Fabio Capello saw all his work pay off as the players carried out his instructions to the letter.  The visitors did come into the game for a while after going two goals down but England were still in control.  Gareth Barry was outstanding in his midfield role, intercepting, making good tackles, supporting the attack and always making himself available for his colleagues.  Croatia could not create anything by way of a goal attempt and Rob Green had an easy half.  On 27 minutes Frank Lampard hit a 35 yard free-kick, which again the goalkeeper did well to claw away.  Rooney then cleverly put Lennon clear but the goalkeeper just managed a touch to stop his shot and if Emile Heskey’s touch had been better he too would have scored following another good attack.

Croatia had no answer as the England players snapped at their every move, with the nearest home player taking on the man in possession.  It was tremendous stuff and the crowd loved it.  On 38 minutes Gerrard had another chance down the left as he broke clear and he should have finished better.  Still the chances kept coming, on 42 minutes Heskey should have scored but took his eye off the ball believing he was offside, which he wasn’t.  A minute later and Heskey set up Lampard who completely fluffed his shot.  Just before the break Lampard returned the compliment by setting up Heskey, but again the big forward missed a golden chance.  The England players were deservedly given a standing ovation as they went off at half-time, and they could have been out of sight if they had taken all their chances.

After the break Croatia brought on two substitutes and for ten minutes they did look a little livelier, keeping possession well and making England work hard.  But after 58 minutes England scored the goal that settled the match, and it was another cracker.  Lennon was again involved, passing to Gerrard who, in turn, found Glen Johnson down the right wing.  Some tricky footwork and a wonderful cross saw the ball met by a deft header from that man Lampard again.  Eight minutes later and England went 4-0 up as Gerrard, Barry and Rooney combined for Rooney to cross into the middle where Gerrard followed up to score with another fine header.

It was the 69^th minute when Croatia had their first shot on target, Nico Kranjcar’s shot easily saved by Green, and just as England were congratulating themselves on a tight defensive performance they conceded a goal.  Johnson had played really well at right-back but once again he was turned to easily by the winger attacking down the left.  The cross came in and Green made a fabulous diving save to his left to keep out  Eduardo Da Silva’s header.  The ball spun loose and Green again saved well, this time from Mario Mandzukic, but unfortunately for the goalkeeper Eduardo was able to pounce on the second rebound to score from close range.  If Green was annoyed, you should have seen Capello’s reaction!  He was furious.

But that one blemish on the night’s entertainment was forgiven when England made it 5-1 on 76 minutes.  This time the Croatians, or more specifically goalkeeper Runje, gifted England another goal.  Runje tried to kick clear a backpass and only succeeded in giving Rooney the easiest of chances to score his ninth goal of the campaign.  It was a shame for Runje who had earlier made some fine saves.  But there was no denying England as they thoroughly deserved their win after a sparkling all round team performance, the best the new Wembley has seen so far.  A great night!

Source Notes

BBC Sport
Hns-cff.hr (official Croatia website)
TheFA.com
SkySports.com
ITV One/ITV.com
Mike Payne - football historian and contributor
Marcel Hoefsmit - friend and contributor
____________________

CG