Edited by Paul Elegbeleye
Two solid teams going head-to-head in the World Cup Group Stage… Two Titans battling it out on football’s greatest stage.
England, popularly known as the home of the game, is a nation with a long and deep football history, the epicentre of world football.
They face off Croatia, a less storied country historically, but one that has produced masters of the football craft, shown themselves to be a capable footballing country in recent years.
FIRST HALF
Noni Madueke
Kane
This is not to say Croatia just sat back and allowed England to simply walk over them. Zlatko Dalić‘s men fought back, causing the possession to occasionally switch hands between the two vibrant teams.
At the end of the game, England recorded 54% of the possession, leaving Croatia with the remaining 46%, rather close. Luka Modrić‘s unintentional foul on Madueke caused Croatia their first setback.
In an attempt to clear the ball, Modrić rammed his foot into Madueke’s knee, who seemed to appear out of nowhere. English Captain, Harry Kane stepped up to the task of taking the penalty.
The Bayern Munich star had missed his last World Cup spot kick for his country in the Qatar 2022 Quarter-final. Against Croatia, he proceeded with his signature technique for scoring penalties- a moderately paced run up, and just before he reaches the ball, a little feint done in an attempt to trick the goalkeeper. On this occasion, however, Dominik Livaković was not fooled and he denied Kane.
Luka Modrić had respite… but only briefly. The Englishman complained to the referee that the Croatian keeper had stepped off his line with both feet, coming forward to save the penalty. Upon checking with the other officials, the referee discovered this to be true, and gave the English a second chance to score from the spot. Kane stepped up again.
This time, the run-up was simple and straight to the point. Shooting it straight into the right corner, he sent Livaković the wrong way completely. England 1-0 Croatia. Martin Baturina balanced it out in the 36th minute with an absolute peach of a goal.
Everything about Croatia’s equaliser screamed class, from the ball being stolen in the midfield, the counter attack which ensued, the fake shot from Petar Sučić, his pass and the exquisite strike from Baturina to send the Croatian fans in the stands roaring.
England 1-1 Croatia. The stadium seemed to be packed full of Croatian jerseys, and their presence was felt even more when they booed the English players around the corner flags.
Declan Rice, England’s designated corner kick man was naturally the main victim of this. Nonetheless, the Premier League Champion was unfazed by this, and in the 42nd minute, his cross into the net from the corner flag found Harry Kane’s eager head. They were back in the lead. England 2-1 Croatia.
With this goal, the English Captain had now tied with Gary Lineker for England’s all-time leading goal scorer at the World Cup. Croatia was now forced to go back to the drawing board and climb back up to level terms with the English. In the 5th minute of overtime, they struck gold.
Ivan Perišić found himself on the end of a long ball into the English box; with his back to the goal, he nodded it towards his teammate, Petar Musa, who slotted it in. They are level again. England 2-2 Croatia.
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SECOND HALF
Jude Bellingham
England 3-2 Croatia.
Bellingham almost doubles their lead less than a minute later but Livaković denied him his brace. Nico O’Reilly receives Rice’s service from the corner flag but is unable to convert it to a goal.
Declan Rice’s corner kicks were proving to be a real concern for the Croatian defence, with one already leading to a goal, and multiple others leading to very near chances.
Livaković is forced to make a double save after one of such corner kicks. Substitutions are made, applauses are given. More chances come and go for both teams, England having more, and finally Marcus Rashford comes off the bench and drives the final nail into Croatia’s coffin. England 4-2 Croatia.
It was a hard fought game with both sides showing spirit, but in the end, the better team was victorious.
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