CROATIA 0, ENGLAND 0 – UEFA NATIONS LEAGUE
England handed a debut to Jadon Sancho but were left ruing missed chances as they drew a blank in the so-called “Ghost-game” away to Croatia.
Eric Dier and Harry Kane both hit the woodwork with great chances, while Kane had a goal ruled out for offside, and Marcus Rashford fluffed two great chances to score as England struggled to put away their chances against a lacklustre Croatia who were in damage control mode.
Former Manchester City youth product Jadon Sancho became England’s second youngest debutant at the age of 18 years and 201 days – second only behind Manchester United’s Duncan Edwards but he showed signs of his electric pace in his 12 minutes on the pitch.
England’s UEFA Nations League qualifier at the HNK Rijeka Stadium was played out in eerie silence without fans present as the home side was being punished for racism after marking a swastika on the pitch before a Euro 2016 home qualifier against Italy.
The subsequent ban has also affected England fans, hundreds who whom had already made travel plans when then ban hit and were looking forward to seeing England avenge their World Cup Semi Final defeat in the summer in Russia.
Ross Barkley and Ben Chilwell were handed starts for England.
Leicester City left back Chilwell was a late addition to the senior squad after an injury to Manchester United’s Luke Shaw but made his senior starting debut after a cameo against Switzerland in the last game.
England boss Gareth Southgate switched to a flat back four against Croatia after the added boost to creative influence in the squad but used Eric Dier and Jordan Henderson to provide more midfield solidity.
Croatia had been much changed in the last 93 days since their World Cup encounter with England.
Several players have retired or were injured but England’s hosts retained plenty of quality in midfield with Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic although the variable quality of the pitch had a great say in the resulting game.
England will lose John Stones and Jordan Henderson for the trip to Spain after both picked up bookings on a night that will surely only be remembered for the empty stands and occasional song from intrepid travelling England fans outside the stadium – they didn’t miss much.
Match Stats – Croatia 0, England 0
England: Pickford, Walker, Stones, Maguire, Chilwell, Henderson, Dier, Barkley, Sterling (Sancho 78), Kane, Rashford
Croatia: Livajovic, Jedvaj, Lovren, Vida, Pivaric, Kovacic (Badelj 73), Rakitic, Kramaric, Modric, Perisic (Pjaca 68), Rebic (Livaja 80)
Attendance: 0