Croatia 1 v 4 England: England Finally Get It Right In Croatia

September 11, 2008 by CLDsport

England Thrash Croatia 4-1 England have enjoyed sweet revenge over the team that ended their Euro 2008 qualification hopes, beating Croatia 4-1 in Zagreb with a hat-trick from Arsenal winger Theo Walcott. The loss is Croatia’s first competitive loss at home.

With much talk about England’s poor recent performances, the squad - and Fabio Capello - had much to prove in Zagreb on Wednesday evening. Thankfully, they did so in style.

Capello’s team put in a performance that has not been seen for many years, possibly since their 5-1 demolition of Germany in 2001 under the reign of Sven Goran Eriksson.

England dominated throughout, and played some fantastic football - AT LAST!

A few eyebrows may have been raised when it was revealed Theo Walcott would start on the right, ahead of former captain David Beckham. The Arsenal youngster proved the doubters wrong however, with a brilliant performance from start to finish. The Croatians had no answer to his pace, and looked almost petrified every time he got the ball.

No surprise then that the first goal came from the 19-year-old on 26 minutes. Heskey had already had a decent shout for a penalty waved away when Danijel Pranjic’s clearance hit Robert Kovac and fell nicely at Walcott’s feet. He made no mistake in smashing the ball into the bottom corner for his first England goal.

Just under ten minutes into the second half, and Croatia’s Robert Kovac was sent off for leading with his elbow in a challenge with Joe Cole. The challenge left the Chelsea midfielder with a nasty bleed to the head, and he was stretchered off to be replaced by Jermaine Jenas.

Just six minutes later England went 2-0 ahead when Rooney - finding form again - set up Walcott for his, and England’s, second of the night.

England were at their unstoppable best (CLDsport: How long is it since we have been able to say that?!), and just minutes later Jenas made progress down the left, before pulling the ball back perfectly for Rooney, who finished superbly to make it 3-0.

Lampard and Barry were controlling the midfield, and the whole team gelled perfectly as they forced wave after wave of attack on the Croatian defence. Lampard was denied a brilliant goal following another superbly executed move after Heskey was adjudged to have committed a foul - somewhat harsh some might say.

It was the home team who found the net next though. With a little over ten minutes remaining Mandzukic drove the ball under David James in the England goal after a break from Darijo Srna.

England were not finished though, as Rooney once again created an opportunity for Walcott with a perfectly weighted through ball. The former Southampton star made no mistake as he raced through to slot home and complete his hat-trick - the first competitive hat-trick since Owen’s in the 5-1 destruction of Germany.

A fantastic, and long-awaited, performance in Zagreb has resulted in England taking control of Group 6 with two wins in 5 days. A win is a win, but England have proved tonight that they are capable of beating anyone. It is the performance that has impressed more than the result. In truth, 4-1 is better than Croatia deserved, and, for now at least, we can be proud to be an England fan once again.

Congratulations on a brilliant and professional display.

Croatia: Pletikosa, Simunic, Robert Kovac, Corluka, Pranjic, Rakitic, Petric (Knezevic 56), Nico Kovac (Pokrivac 62), Srna, Modric, Olic (Mandzukic 73).
Subs Not Used: Runje, Krizanac, Leko, Klasnic.

Sent Off: Robert Kovac (53).

Booked: Simunic, Srna.

Goals: Mandzukic 78.

England: James, Brown, Terry (Upson 88), Ferdinand, Ashley Cole, Walcott (Beckham 84), Lampard, Barry, Joe Cole (Jenas 55), Rooney, Heskey.
Subs Not Used: Robinson, Johnson, Downing, Defoe.

Booked: Heskey.

Goals: Walcott 26, 59, Rooney 63, Walcott 82.

Att: 35,000.

Ref: Lubos Michel (Slovakia).

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