From the Wally with the Brolly to fantasy football under Capello...

ENGLAND and Croatia have met seven times, with the Three Lions winning four, losing two and drawing one. Here we recall the last five meetings, all of which have been competitive and memorable for different reasons

JUNE 21, 2004 – Euro 2004 group stage, Croatia 2 England 4

England booked a quarter-final place against the hosts Portugal with 18-year-old Wayne Rooney scoring twice after setting up Paul Scholes (together, left) for the equaliser, before

Frank Lampard added a late fourth. A penalty shoot-out defeat to

Portugal followed with

Rooney breaking a metatarsal.

NOVEMBER 21, 2007 – Euro 2008 qualifier, England 2 Croatia 3

Boss Steve Mcclaren became the ‘Wally with the Brolly’ (below) and was sacked after England failed to qualify for the finals.

Croatia, who had already booked their place, went 2-0 up inside 14 minutes as Scott Carson fumbled Niko Kranjcar’s shot into his net and Ivica Olic got a second.

Lampard pulled one back with a second-half penalty and Peter Crouch levelled, but Mladen Petric crashed home

a 25-yard winner.

OCTOBER 11, 2006 – Euro 2008 qualifier, Croatia 2 England 0

Paul Robinson made a string of fine saves to ensure a goalless first half as Croatia laid siege on England’s goal before Eduardo headed the home side into a 61st-minute lead.

Eight minutes later, Gary Neville’s back-pass bobbled up after hitting a divot on the six-yard line as Robinson (top, left) went to clear and the keeper watched in agony as the ball bounced over his boot and over the line.

SEPTEMBER 10, 2008 – World Cup qualifier, Croatia 1 England 4

Teenager Theo Walcott fired a hat-trick to inflict Croatia’s first home defeat in a competitive fixture. Walcott gave Fabio Capello’s England a half-time lead and drilled home a second in the 59th minute after Robert Kovac had been sent off for his elbow on Joe Cole. Rooney got a third England goal and after Mario Mandzukic scored a consolation, Walcott (below) finished his treble.

SEPTEMBER 9, 2009 – World Cup qualifier, England 5 Croatia 1

England earned a place at South Africa 2010 at Wembley with five qualifying matches still to play. Lampard (top, right), his first from the penalty spot, and Steven Gerrard both struck twice in either half and Eduardo’s effort for Croatia was swiftly snuffed out when Rooney added a fifth.