SCORECHIO!
Sterling effort sets England campaign ablaze in heat
ENGLAND kept their cool in 28C heat yesterday, beating Croatia 1-0 to ignite their delayed Euro 2020 campaign.
MONTHS of footie-frustration were blown away as England got their Euro 2020 glory bid off to a roaring start.
Raheem Sterling scored the winner in a 1-0 victory over Croatia in front of 22,500 delighted fans.
They filled 90,000-capacity Wembley with songs, cheers and chants following last year’s tournament postponement.
And their heroes responded by delivering England’s first ever opening match win in the history of the competition.
It also avenged the Three Lions’ 2018 World Cup semi-final defeat by Croatia.
The occasion threatened to turn sour when boos rang out from fans as the players took the knee before kick-off, despite pleas from manager Gareth Southgate, the FA and PM Boris Johnson to back the gesture.
But thousands of other supporters quickly began cheering to drown out the jeers.
And the noise level quickly rose to fever pitch when Sterling ran on to a precise pass by Leeds star Kalvin Phillips to fire England in front.
It sent millions watching in sun-drenched beer gardens across Britain into ecstasy – along with Covid heroes who tuned in from a fan zone in Trafalgar Square.
London mayor Sadiq Khan invited paramedics, police, firefighters and Tube workers to watch the match with him as thanks for their efforts in combatting coronavirus.
Sporting a Three Lions shirt he told them: “We’re hoping that support for the team will get back to Gareth and the team so they know that London is behind England.’’
Last night bookmaker Betfair slashed England’s odds from 11-2 to 9-2 joint favourites to win the tournament with reigning world champions France.
BACK of the net!
Our Three Lions heroes got off to a roaring start yesterday.
It’s just what the nation needed. And we’re backing them to go all the way.
The 1-0 victory against Croatia was a reason to raise a pint and celebrate the great British summer.
Harry Kane and the boys did us all proud. Raheem Sterling’s glorious goal got the tournament off to a flying start for the England team.
Fans have definitely got the feelgood factor back again – and let’s hope it continues.
We all need something to cheer about after the past 18 months.
We have waited long enough for the beer gardens to reopen – and what perfect timing.
Let’s get behind the lads.
All the way to the final.
England believes.