England’s Sterling sinks Croatia as Austria see off North Macedonia
LONDON: Raheem Sterling ignited England’s Euro 2020 campaign as the Manchester City forward’s clinical finish sealed a 1-0 win against Croatia in their Group D opener yesterday. Gareth Southgate’s side were struggling to break down Croatia until Sterling struck in the second half at sunbaked Wembley.
The 26-year-old’s first goal at a major tournament - in his 13th game - was the perfect riposte to critics who questioned Southgate’s decision to select him instead of Jack Grealish. Sterling has endured a chequered relationship with England fans after being hounded following his tame performances at Euro 2016.
He also struggled to hold down a place with Premier League champions City this term, culminating in his lacklustre display in their Champions League final defeat against Chelsea. But, days after he was given an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honors List for his anti-racism campaigning, Sterling enjoyed a perfectly-timed moment of redemption.
In a rematch of the 2018 World Cup semi-final won by Croatia, England were hampered by a lack of cutting edge until Sterling came to the rescue. Sterling’s winner eased the tension at Wembley and got fans bellowing ‘Football’s coming home’ in the hope England can emulate their run to the semifinals when they hosted Euro 96, and maybe even win a major tournament for the first time since the 1966 World Cup.
“I’m so pleased for Raheem. He was dangerous all game. His goalscoring record suggests we should have faith in him and I think he was motivated to show that,” Southgate said. In truth, this was a far from convincing performance, but Southgate will take heart from the way his team kept their nerve on a pressure-packed occasion.
Croatia boss Zlatko Dalic added: “We have lots of optimism. We are looking forward to our next games and we can still reach our objective of moving into the next round.”
England hold firm
England host neighbors Scotland in their second Group D match on Friday before taking on the Czech Republic in their final game of the first stage on June 22. Southgate’s surprise decision to select Kalvin Phillips proved an inspired move as, along with Sterling, the Leeds midfielder was England’s most accomplished performer. Manchester City forward Phil Foden, his hair bleached blond, has drawn comparisons with England legend Paul Gascoigne, who sported the same eye-catching hair cut during Euro 96.
In the absence of the injured Harry Maguire, Tyrone Mings and John Stones were up to the task as England’s center-backs held firm to clinch a victory in their opening European Championship game for the first time.
Meanwhile, substitutes Michael Gregoritsch and Marko Arnautovic scored late goals as Austria sealed a 3-1 victory over major tournament debutants North Macedonia in their Group C opener at Euro 2020 yesterday.
Stefan Lainer put the Austrians ahead early on in Bucharest, but 37-year-old captain Goran Pandev levelled before the half-hour mark to become the second-oldest scorer in Euro history and delight the vocal Macedonian fans.
But Gregoritsch diverted home the deciding goal 12 minutes from time and Arnautovic added a third to ensure Austria claimed their first-ever European Championship win and struck first blood in a group also containing the Netherlands and Ukraine, who meet in Amsterdam later in the day. Austria next visit the Dutch on Thursday, while North Macedonia stay in the Romanian capital to face Ukraine.
After a bright start by Igor Angelovski’s
Macedonians yesterday, Austria struck against the run of play in the 18th minute as right-back Lainer met Marcel Sabitzer’s cross at the back post to volley past goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski.
Lainer celebrated by holding up a shirt with the words “Eriksen stay strong” after Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest in their game against Finland on Saturday. It was the first time Austria had taken the lead in a European Championship game. They quickly threatened a second goal as Sasa Kalajdzic turned Sabitzer’s
pass too close to Dimitrievski.
But North Macedonia continued to press and levelled in the 28th minute as Austria goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann lost the ball as he slid out to collect it after some comical defending, and Pandev gleefully accepted the gift to slot into an empty net.
It was a record-extending 38th goal for the former Inter Milan forward for his country, making him the second-oldest player to net in the tournament after Austrian Ivica Vastic at the age of 38 against Poland in 2008. — AFP