Empty stands a sad sight for Dalic
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Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic described a 0-0 Nations League draw with England in a World Cup semi-final rematch as a “sad” day for football as fans were banned from the clash in Rijeka.
Croatia were completing a Uefa sanction after a swastika symbol was carved into the pitch during a Euro 2016 qualifier against Italy over three years ago.
“The atmosphere is not easy for anybody. It is sad for football but hopefully this is our last time,” said Dalic.
“Football is played for the fans. It’s sad the second and fourth team from the World Cup are playing behind closed doors. I don’t know who it is good for.”
In front of the empty stands, Marcus Rashford missed two glorious chances to exact England a small measure of revenge for missing out on the World Cup final to Croatia 93 days ago in Moscow.
Eric Dier and Harry Kane also hit the woodwork for the visitors, who enjoyed the better of a subdued game befitting of the bizarre atmosphere.
“It feels like a game we should have won,” said England manager Gareth Southgate.
“We dictated the flow of the game for a long period. The second-half performance was excellent, we were pushing and pushing right to the end and on another day we would finish those chances.”
A small band of England supporters perched on a hill overlooking ■ the deserted 8,000 capacity stadium in Rijeka tried to offer their encouragement.
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 semi-finals next summer.
“We could easily hear the ones on the hill,” said Dier. “They were the only ones here.”
Mario Mandzukic scored the winning goal to end England’s World Cup dream in Moscow, but without the Juventus striker, who has since retired from international football, Croatia lacked a focal point up front.
Huge role
“We need to stop talking about Mario Mandzukic,” added Dalic. “He is not here and we need to respect his decision.”
Andrej Kramaric had the hosts’ best chance, but placed ■ his shot from Ivan Perisic’s cutback too close to Jordan Pickford, who made a smart save.
England’s prowess from set pieces played a huge role in their World Cup success and again proved a potent weapon.
Dier headed Jordan Henderson’s corner off the post a minute before the break.
And six minutes after the break Kane rose highest to a Henderson free-kick only to see his looping header come Switzerland
back off the crossbar.
Dalic complained after a 6-0 thrashing at the hands of Spain that his side were still fatigued from their summer exertions and they faded again as England took control at the start of the second period.
Romelu Lukaku had a brace in Belgium’s 2-1 victory against Switzerland, the win bringing Belgium to six points from two matches and leaves them atop League A Group 2, three points ahead of the Swiss.
Some 40,000 people were in the stands at King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels on Friday night for Belgium’s first home match since their historic third-place finish in the 2018 World Cup. The teams kept each other at bay in the first half, but the match opened up considerably after the break, reports Efe news.
Lukaku broke the deadlock in the 56th minute, putting the exclamation point to a play that saw five different Belgian players combine to produce a goal.
Late substitute Mario Gavranovic equalised for the Swiss in the 76th minute, but Lukaku reclaimed the lead in the 84th with help from Eden Hazard and Dries Mertens, becoming Belgium’s all-time leading scorer with 45 goals.