RAHEEM STERLING Ignited England’s Euros Campaign With His First Goal At A Most Important Tournament

 

Manchester City winger Sterling - who had performed at two World Cups and Euro 2016 without discovering the net - clipped home a scrumptious pass from man-of-the-match Kalvin Phillips.

And England are now nearly sure to attain the knock-out stage, as well as being red-hot favourites to pinnacle Group D and earn a last-16 match at Wembley.

There had been calls for Sterling to be benched in favour of Jack Grealish however the City man justified his resolution in style with a livewire return-to-form display, as nicely as the essential goal.

Phil Foden curled a shot towards the inside of the post after just 5 minutes however just as England were looking frustrated in their attempts to smash down the Croats, Sterling struck 12 minutes into the 2nd half.

In front of a vociferous 21,000 crowd at Wembley, this was an encouraging - if not flawless - performance, which have to set up England well for a tournament when they will play the majority of their fits on home soil.

Southgate sprang one major shock by fielding Kieran Trippier at left-back - with Champions League winner Ben Chilwell not even on the bench.

Trippier’s set-piece prowess can also have swung it for him with neither of England’s other dead-ball specialists, Trent Alexander-Arnold and James Ward-Prowse, in the squad.

There was isolated booing as England’s gamers took the knee, drowned out by applause and cheers.

And in the blistering early-afternoon heat, England commenced with purpose and conviction, snapping at Croatian heels like a pack of dogs.

Midway via the half though, the Croats commenced to dominate possession - Trippier was beaten down the flank however Ivan Perisic made a hash of a decent shooting chance.

Kyle Walker was struggling with numerous misplaced passes and Croatia were beginning to appear like the savvy old side which defeated Southgate’s guys at the World Cup.

Still Tyrone Mings - who was justifying his controversial selection - sent a lengthy looping pass which released Sterling, who was fouled on edge of box by Duje Caleta-Car - but Trippier was denied by the wall.

The begin to the second half was scrappy form England - Mateo Kovacic was booked for nobbling Chelsea team-mate Mount and a terrible Trippier back-header compelled Jordan Pickford into a desperate dash to clear.