“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 put in a lot of good work and Raz has got the quality and composure in front of goal, as he’s showed many times.
“As a defence, we felt in good shape. The back four is only as good as the players in front giving protection. Full credit to the whole team: the subs were brilliant as well, they gave us a new lease of life. That’s going to be important for us, using the whole squad. The Scotland match will be a hell of an occasion. We know their threat and that we need to focus on the game rather than the occasion.”
Both these teams play again on Friday: Croatia play the Czech Republic in Glasgow, then England meet Scotland at Wembley. Oh yes.
Raheem Sterling speaks
“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.
“[Have you justified your selection?] Have I justified my selection? [Long pause, then a half smile] I’m trying. It’s great to start with a win and hopefully we can build on it. As I said to you, it’s been a long season for me. I couldn’t wait to get here and get started with England because I knew it would be a positive experience.”
It’s been a really good day for Gareth Southgate. Sterling, whose selection was ridiculed, scored the goal, while Kieran Trippier was excellent at left-back. The change from 4-2-3-1 to 4-1-4-1 also worked perfectly, and had a direct impact on the goal with Phillips further up the field.
They’re playing Three Lions on the tannoy. It’s over, forget it.
Raheem Sterling’s goal, made superbly by Kalvin Phillips, gives England a deserved victory. There wasn’t much in it, and it wasn’t a great game, but England’s young midfield - Rice, Phillips, Mount - righted the wrongs of 2018 by keeping Croatia at arm’s length. Tyrone Mings also had a very good game, but those three midfielders, all aged 25 or under, were the stars.
There was a slight scare at the end. Perisic’s long throw was headed away to the edge of the area, where Pasalic spanked a half-volley into orbit. And that was the last kick of the game.
Peep peep! For the first time in their history, England have won their opening game at a European Championship!
90+3 min A long, straight ball is headed across the area towards Petkovic, and Pickford is quickly off his line to claim. That was good goalkeeping.
90+2 min Another England change: the goalscorer Raheem Sterling, whose selection was widely ridiculed, is replaced by Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Sterling is congratulated by Gareth Southgate as he leaves the pitch Photograph: Richard Pelham/EURO 2020 Newspapers Pool
90+1 min Apart from that great chance for Rebic, Croatia haven’t really created anything of note.
90 min There will be four minutes of added time.
89 min A nasty clash of heads between Vida and Bellingham leads to a break in play. They both seem okay. The players take the opportunity to enjoy a Gatorade chaser or two.
87 min This would be, in the face of almost no competition, England’s best result in the opening match of a major tournament since they beat France 3-1 in 1982.
86 min “If you are going to sub in Rashford,” says Mary Waltz, “shouldn’t he be on the left side?”
I agree, I think he’s a bit lost on the right (so does your beloved Jose Mourinho). I don’t mind him up front, where he’s playing now, if you are holding onto a lead.
85 min Croatia bring on Mario Pasalic for Mateo Kovacic.
84 min Perisic’s mishit cross is claimed by the backpedalling Pickford. Croatia are having more of the ball now, as you’d expect, but England look relatively comfortable. In the 2018 semi-final you could see the equaliser coming for maybe five or six minutes before Perisic scored it. That’s not the case here, at least not yet.
82 min What a moment this is: Jude Bellingham, 17, becomes the youngest player ever to appear at the European Championship. He has come on to replace Harry Kane, with Mount moving to the right and Rashford going up front.
Bellingham gets stuck in against Modric Photograph: Justin Tallis/EPA
80 min Nobody will really care about the negatives if England win, BECAUSE IT’LL ONLY JOLLY WELL BE COMING HOME, but I suppose Kane’s anonymity is a slight concern - especially as he was similarly quiet in general play at the World Cup, even though he won the Golden Boot. Ach, who cares, I don’t know what I’m on about, he’s Harry Kane FFS.
79 min That’s Rebic’s last touch - he is replaced by Bruno Petkovic.
78 min Rebic turns smartly and finds Vrsaljko, whose cutback is coolly intercepted by Rice. He’s had a really good game. In fact England’s three central midfielders have been excellent, which is significant as that’s where the World Cup semi-final was lost.
Declan Rice shields the ball from Mateo Kovacic Photograph: Tom Jenkins/EURO 2020 Newspapers Pool/The Guardian
77 min “I was just thinking how few shirtless men I’d seen in the crowd even with this heat,” says Sean Boiling. “Then Raheem pops up and the shirts fly off.”
Heaven knows what state of undress Ian Copestake is in by now.
76 min Actually, I think it’s just cramp. He’s going to continue.
76 min There’s a break in play while John Stones receives treatment. This doesn’t look great, actually, and Ben White is warming up.
75 min England have never won their opening game at a European Championship. But they have thrown away a lead before. In 1980, and 1996, and 2000, and 2004, and 2012, and 2016.
74 min: Sterling misses an excellent chance! Trippier’s deep, driven free-kick is headed back smartly by Mings towards Sterling, who lashes it over the bar with his left foot. That was a really good opportunity.
73 min A cross from the right is headed on by Rebic towards Perisic, and Walker does really well to get between him and the ball to shepherd it through to Pickford.
71 min And a change for England: Phil Foden, who had a decent game and hit the post early on, is replaced by Marcus Rashford.
Rashford comes on as a substitute to replace Foden Photograph: Laurence Griffiths/Reuters
70 min Two changes for Croatia: Nikola Vlasic and Josip Brekalo replace Brozovic and Kramaric.
70 min Modric drives it flat to the edge of the D, where Brozovic charges onto the ball but volleys well wide.
69 min Croatia win a corner on the left. Walker wasn’t happy with the decision...
67 min Mount whips the free-kick just over the bar. Livakovic had it covered but it was sweetly stuck. Mount has been his usual perky, purposeful self.
Mount goes close with a free kick Photograph: Tom Jenkins/EURO 2020 Newspapers Pool/The Guardian
66 min Brozovic fouls Mount 22 yards from goal and is booked. This free-kick is in a great position, and Mount will surely take this one.
65 min: Rebic misses a great chance! Croatia should be level. Kovacic’s long-range snapshot was blocked by Stones on the six-yard line. But he could only divert it straight to Rebic, who dragged well wide from 15 yards. That was a really flustered attempt.
64 min The goal has re-energised England, for richer and poorer. Foden is booked for a slightly overzealous tackle on Gvardiol.
63 min Kane is back on his feet and seems okay.
61 min: Sensational defending from Gvardiol! Phillips and Foden combined to find Mount on the left of the area. He clipped a superb cross towards Kane, who was about to score at the far post when Gvardiol stretched around him to clear. Kane’s momentum took him into the post, and he is still down.
Harry Kane shoots wide Photograph: Andy Rain/Reuters
and is winded after clattering into the Goal Post Photograph: Tom Jenkins/EURO 2020 Newspapers Pool/The Guardian
60 min Now it suits England to play at a slow pace, because they have a precious advantage.
It’s Raheem Sterling’s first goal at a major tournament. But it also belongs to Kalvin Phillips, who made it with a superb, surging run. He beat two players in the inside-right channel and angled a perfect through ball to Sterling, who was on the move as always and forced a first-time shot through Livakovic. That’s a lovely moment for Sterling, who has had such a bad time at major tournaments, and also for the outstanding Kalvin Phillips.
Sterling scores for England Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian
Sterling celebrates scoring Photograph: Carl Recine/Reuters
55 min Modric’s long-range shot is easily saved by Pickford. Croatia kept the ball for a long time beforehand, and if I was an England fan I’d be reaching for the Jaws soundtrack.
55 min Broadly speaking, the slower the game, the more it suits Croatia. At the moment it’s being played at a snail’s pace.
54 min Kane turns Vida smartly, 25 yards from goal, but his through pass to Sterling is intercepted. I thought he was going to hit that.
52 min “I’m watching in America at a bakery,” says Jenn Sykes. “In a lot of places here you can’t sell alcohol on Sundays until the afternoon so the bars won’t open. It’s a bit jarring to watch a game surrounded by pink boxes and cupcakes, but they have a TV and cable subscription so I’ll take it!”
50 min A dodgy backheader from Trippier almost puts Rebic through on goal, but the alert Pickford charges out of his area and boots the ball clear. Croatia have started the second half well.
48 min Kovacic is booked for a crunching tackle on his clubmate Mount. He did win the ball but the referee decided his challenge was irresponsible, reckless or whatever the word is.
46 min Mings’ attempted pass to Stones is blocked by Perisic, with the ball looping into the arms of Pickford. For a split-second it looked like it might drift over him into the net, which would have registered about 9.2 on the Gualtierifarceometer.
46 min Peep peep! Croatia kick off, hoping to put some second-half hurt on England once again.
“An impressive first five minutes,” high-fives Chris Harrison, “followed by lots of aimless sideways and backwards tiki-taka, Sterling huffing and puffing but ultimately either tripping over the ball, giving it away or nearly hitting the corner flag when your average U.12 would have found it easier to test the keeper. And Harry who?”
You must have loved the second half against Switzerland in 1996.
“If it is so hot there, the game will only get slower in the second half,” says John Burrell. “Is that a bad omen for England?”
Not necessarily, especially as both teams can use five substitutes. England have some good attacking options – Grealish, Rashford, Grealish, Calvert-Lewin, Grealish, Saka, Grealish, Grealish and possibly even Grealish.
Jack Grealish of England warms up Photograph: Kevin Quigley/EURO 2020 Newspapers Pool
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Peep peep! An intriguing half - that’s not a euphemism - ends goalless. Phil Foden hit the post early on, and for a while it looked like England’s young team might overrun Croatia. But as the half went on Croatia came into it and started to slow the game down in the heat.
45 min Perisic plays a smart give-and-go on the edge of the area, but Mings steps across to make an important challenge. He’s had a good half.
43 min And Trippier cracks it into the wall.
Trippier takes the free kick Photograph: Tom Jenkins/EURO 2020 Newspapers Pool/The Guardian
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