UEFA Nations League 2018/19
Croatia vs England
League A – Group 4
Stadion HJK Rijeka, Croatia
Friday, October 12
th
Kick-off at 19:45 (7:45pm) GMT
The honeymoon period following a stellar showing at the FIFA World Cup is well and truly over for Zlatko Dalic’s side. Croatia have serious work to do if they are to have any shot of qualifying for the knockout phases of the newly-formed continental competition. Despite containing the World’s best player Luka Modric, an award just recently bestowed upon him, Vatreni head into Friday’s crunch clash without a win since that showpiece final against France in July. They were hammered 6-0 by Spain in their opening affair as they slipped to the bottom of the group on goal difference.
Croatia recent results: (all competitions)
11/09/2018 – Spain 6-0 Croatia (UNL)
06/09/2018 – Portugal 1-1 Croatia
15/07/2018 – France 4-2 Croatia (FWC)
11/07/2018 – Croatia 2-1 England (FWC)
The Three Lions were 22 minutes away from a place in the final in Russia, for the first time since 1966 on home soil, after Kieran Trippier’s marvellous first-half free-kick, when Mario Mandzukic equalised with a fine finish before eventually being undone by Ivan Perisic in extra time. England will be looking to bounce back after they too were defeated by the 2010 World Cup winners Spain in their opening Nations League match, ahead of the return fixture to be played in Seville on Monday. Marcus Rashford was on target in that 2-1 loss before netting the winner in a friendly victory over Switzerland three days later to end the week on a high.
England recent results: (all competitions)
11/09/2018 – England 1-0 Switzerland
08/11/2018 – England 1-2 Spain (UNL)
14/07/2018 – Belgium 2-0 England (FWC)
11/07/2018 – Croatia 2-1 England (FWC)
Croatia’s victory over England at the World Cup was their first success since humiliating Steve Mclaren’s side in 2007, but it was a far-cry from the sad state of affairs on the pitch for England on that rainy day at Wembley.
Croatia vs England head-to-head:
Played: 8
Croatia Wins: 3
Draws: 1
England Wins: 4
Croatia Goals: 12
England Goals: 19
This will be England’s first visit to Croatia for a competitive match in over 10 years, since a 4-1 win in September 2008 during the qualifying campaign for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Theo Walcott, who scored a hat-trick that evening, has not been included in Gareth Southgate’s 25-man squad and therefore will not have the chance to add to his tally against Croatia. Mario Mandzukic has scored in two of his last three outings against England.
Croatia vs England results: (last seven)
11/07/2018 – Croatia 2-1 England
09/09/2009 – England 5-1 Croatia
10/09/2008 – Croatia 1-4 England
21/11/2007 – England 2-3 Croatia
11/10/2006 – Croatia 2-0 England
21/06/2004 – Croatia 2-4 England
20/08/2003 – England 3-1 Croatia
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