Lukaku strikes twice as Belgium battle past Switzerland Croatia hold wasteful England to stalemate
RIJEKA, Croatia, Oct 13, (AFP): England’s attempt to exact World Cup revenge on Croatia fell short in a 0-0 Nations League draw in front of an empty stadium in Rijeka on Friday as the visitors were left to rue Marcus Rashford’s profligacy in front of goal.
Rashford twice fired too close to Dominik Livakovic with just the Croatia goalkeeper to beat, while Eric Dier and Harry Kane also hit the woodwork for the Three Lions as Croatia toiled.
However, a point does little for either side’s hopes of usurping Spain, who beat both last month, to progress to the first ever Nations League semifinals next summer.
Croatia were completing a UEFA sanction to play two games behind closed doors after a swastika symbol was carved into the pitch during a Euro 2016 qualifier against Italy in June 2015.
A small band of England fans perched on a hill overlooking the deserted 8,000 capacity stadium in Rijeka tried to offer their encouragement.
However, the lack of atmosphere in the stands was reflected on the pitch with neither side understandably hitting the heights they did at the World Cup when Croatia beat England 2-1 in the semifinals.
England boss Gareth Southgate had named a vastly inexperienced squad, including six uncapped players.
None of the new faces were named in the starting line-up, but Leicester’s Ben Chilwell was handed his first start and nearly created the opener with a fine low cross that Josip Pivaric did well to prevent Raheem Sterling turning home.
Mario Mandzukic scored the winning goal to end England’s World Cup dream 93 days ago in Moscow, but without the Juventus striker, who has since retired from international football, Croatia England’s Marcus Rashford (center), vies for the ball with Croatia’s Mateo Kovacic (left), and Duje Cop during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Croatia and England at Rujevica
Stadium in Rijeka, Croatia on Oct 12. (AP)
Estonia’s forward Sergei Zenjov (left), and Finland’s defender Jere Uronen head the ball during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Estonia and Finland at the A le Coq Arena Stadium in Tallinn, Estonia on Oct 12. (AP)
the second half in Vienna to give Austria their first win in the new competition.
Success in the Nations League could secure a place at Euro 2020, but Northern Ireland are a long way from that target, sitting bottom of a three-team group that also includes Bosnia.
Czech 2, Slovakia 1 In Prague, a late header by substitute Patrik Schick gave the Czech Republic a 2-1 win over neighbouring Slovakia on Saturday and earned the visiting side their first points in the Nations League competition.
The Slovaks had squandered a slew of chances before the 22-year-old Roma forward broke the deadlock in the 76th minute when he headed into the top corner from captain Borek Dockal’s cross.
The goal came minutes after Schick had replaced Michael Krmencik, who scored the first goal of the match after 52 minutes when he held off a marker and side-footed home following a nifty through ball from Dockal.
France 2, Iceland 2 In Guingamp, Kylian Mbappe inspired a fightback from world champions France as they rallied from two goals down at home to earn a 2-2 draw with Iceland on Thursday.
Birkir Bjarnason swept Iceland ahead from the edge of the area on 30 minutes, and Kari Arnason’s excellent secondhalf header doubled their lead in Guingamp.
But Mbappe, brought on as a substitute for the final half-hour, gave France a lifeline when his shot was saved and then inadvertently turned in by Iceland defender Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson.