AUTHOR: Star Sports Content

STAR PREVIEW: England v Croatia

Revenge will be on the minds of many as England face Croatia again and there’s more than just bragging rights at stake as the pair face off in a winner takes all clash. If England manage to win then they will top the group, thus taking them through to next summer’s finals (and guaranteeing a Euro 2020 play-off spot should they need it). The same prize is there for Croatia, but there would be the twist of England being relegated to Group B.

It has the potential to be quite a game and we could see a very open encounter here. The last encounter between the two ended 1-1 in normal time but it was a miracle that neither side didn’t score at least one goal as these are two sides with plenty of attacking talent.

Gareth Southgate has made sure that haven’t stood still after their run to the semi-finals and in Golden Boot winner Harry Kane and the dynamic duo of Marcus Rashford and Raheem Sterling he has three forwards capable of getting at any defence. The three have shown fine form in the Premier League, with Kane having scored six goals so far this season whilst Rashford has scored in both home and away games against Spain. Raheem Sterling’s double against Spain was a much-deserved reward for his excellent approach play and he continues to perform brilliantly for Manchester City.

The return of Siime Vrsaljko and Marcelo Brozovic was vitally important as Croatia managed to shock Spain with a 3-2 win that has kept themselves in contention, and despite some departures since the World Cup, they still have a fair amount of forward and midfield punch. Ivan Perisic and Andrej Kramaric started upfront for their 3-2 win against Spain whilst in midfield, Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic started in midfield, either side of Marcelo Brozovic. That is much of the same midfield that managed to grab control of the game a few months ago in Russia, and there’s more than enough quality for them to make a mark at Wembley.

England v Croatia
UEFA Nations League, 14:00
Live on Sky Sports

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD
(Maximum 10 matches)
SEP 2018 UEFA NATIONS LEAGUE Croatia 0-0 England
JUL 2018 WORLD CUP Croatia 2-1 England (AET, 1-1 in 90 minutes)
SEP 2009 WORLD CUP QUALIFIER England 5-1 Croatia
SEP 2008 WORLD CUP QUALIFIER Croatia 1-4 England
NOV 2007 EURO 2008 QUALIFIER England 2-3 Croatia
OCT 2006 EURO 2008 Croatia 2-0 England
JUN 2004 EURO 2004 QUALIFIERS Croatia 2-4 England
AUG 2003 FRIENDLY England 3-1 Croatia
APR 1996 FRIENDLY England 0-0 Croatia

England and Croatia’s 0-0 draw behind closed doors was one of only two England fixtures since the World Cup to go below 2.5 goals, but Marcus Rashford missed an open goal along with two 1-on-1’s and Harry Kane hit the bar, so that feels like an exception to the general trend and we could see plenty of goals here.

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