National Teams

England victorious in Vinkovci

Croatia U-21 misses
on EURO 2015 berth

14.10.2014.
Croatia U-21 misses on EURO 2015 berth
photo by: Drago Sopta/HNS
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Croatia U-21 squad did not manage to overcome England and qualify for the EURO 2015 in Czech Republic.

U-21: CROATIA - ENGLAND 1:2 (1:1)
EURO 2015 play-offs, return leg.
Cibalia Stadium, Vinkovci.

Referee: Clement Turpin (France)

Goalscorers: 0:1 - Moore (9'), 1:1 - Livaja (38'), 1:2 - Hughes (73')

Yellow cards: Carroll (56')

Croatia: Livaković, Milić, Datković, Mitrović, Miloš, Bradarić, Pašalić (67' Caktaš), Halilović (79' Mišić), Pjaca, Rebić (34' Bagarić), Livaja. Head coach: N. Gračan

England: Butland, Dier, Shaw, Gibson, Hughes, Moore, Caskey, Carroll, Redmond (85' Ince), Berahino, Kane. Head coach: G. Southgate.

foto: Drago Sopta/HNS

England U-21 traveled to Croatia with one-goal advantage (2:1) from play-off first leg in Wolverhampton and Nenad Gračan's men could not answer in the same fashion to reach the final U-21 tournament.

Pašalić failed to convert a golden opportunity in the first Croatian attack, and minutes later Kane replied for England. However, the goal was soon to come. In 9th minute, Carroll's cross was met by unguarded Moore, who struck with force to give visitors the lead.

Both teams had their chances in the first half, and English goalkeeper Butland kept Croatian strikers at bay. After an hour of play, Rebić had to be substituted, with Bagarić coming off the bench.

foto: Drago Sopta/HNS

Home crowd celebrated the equalizer in 38th minute, when Halilović found Livaja with a superb long ball, and Livaja's low shot beat Butland.

The second half also saw action on both halves of the pitch. Pjaca's shot went wide, Kane fired high from close range, while Berahino hit the post.

The key moment finally happened in 73rd minute, when Hughes found his way through two defenders and fired past Livaković in the bottom corner. That goal proved more than enough for Gareth Southgate's England, who secured EURO 2015 berth.

foto: Drago Sopta/HNS

14.10.2014., Stadion Cibalia, Vinkovci. Spectators: 6352
Referees: Clement Turpin (FRA), Frederic Cano (FRA), Nicolas Danos (FRA)
Fourth referee: Nicolas Rainville (FRA)
Croatia
1
England
2
12Dominik Livaković1Jack Butland
4Filip Bradarić2Eric Jeremy Edgar Dier
21Alen Halilović
79'		3Luke Shaw
6Matej Mitrović4William Hughes
57'
73'
11Ante Rebić
34'		5Benjamin Gibson
10Mario Pašalić
67'		6Liam Moore
9'
13Mato Miloš7Saido Berahino
7Marko Pjaca8Jake Forster-Caskey
3Antonio Milić9Harry Kane
5Niko Datković10Thomas Carroll
14Marko Livaja
38'		11Nathan Redmond
85'
Bench
1Matej Delač13Jonathan Bond
20Petar Mišić
79'		17Thomas Ince
85'
9Stipe Perica12Luke Garbutt
8Nino Galović14Alex Pritchard
19Karlo Bručić15Jamaal Lascelles
16Mijo Caktaš
67'		16Lewis Renard Baker
17Dražen Bagarić
34'		18Cauley Woodrow
Coaches
Nenad GračanGareth Southgate

Croatia U-21 awaits the return leg of the European Championships play-offs against England, to be played in Vinkovci.

U-21: Croatia - England
EURO 2015 play-offs, return leg
14. October 2014, 18:00
Cibalia Stadium, Vinkovci

In the final match of the European Championships 2015 qualifying, Croatia U-21 will face England in Vinkovci on Tuesday.

Following the excellent performance in the qualifying group and claiming top spot, young Croatians narrowly lost to England in Wolverhampton in the play-off first leg. Livaja gave the visitors the lead, with Kane levelling the score and Berahino scoring from the penalty spot five minutes from time to secure 2:1 win.

Thus, England has one-goal advantage for the return leg, while Croatia counts on the valuable away goal.

Dario Župarić and Domagoj Pavičić will miss the match through suspension, compelling head coach Nenad Gračan to call up Jozo Šimunović, Toni Gorupec and Nino Galović. Alen Halilović will join the team from senior squad. Will Hughes and Michael Keane are on England's injury list.

Gareth Southgate's team arrived to Vinkovci on Monday morning and later held the final practice session.

The referee is Clement Turpin from France.