UEFA Euro 2020: Croatia dominates Scotland, England pips Czech Republic to seal quarters berth
The UEFA Euro 2020 completed its Matchday 23 commitments. Only a couple of matches were conducted on Tuesday, involving Group D. Croatia and England sealed their quarters' fate, while the Czech Republic remains uncertain. Here's the round-up.
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FollowThe Matchday 23 of the 2020 UEFA Euro saw a couple of its group stage games being held. Concerning Group D, while Croatia and England booked their place in the quarters, Czech Republic's fate remains unclear. Nevertheless, we take a look at the round-up.
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Croatia rules Scotland
2018 FIFA World Cup runner-up Croatia took on minnow Scotland at the Hampden Park in Glasgow. The match turned out to be engaging in the opening half, as Nikola Vlasic put Croatia ahead in the 17th minute while Callum McGregor levelled it in the 42nd, as the deadlock stayed at half-time.
The following half saw Croatia up its ante as star midfielder Luka Modric restored Croatia'slead in the 62nd. Although Scotland produced some fight, Ivan Perisic's 77th-minute strike sealed the deal for the Vatrenis.
Stats
- McGregor became the first Scottish to score in the Euro since Ally McCoist in 1996, as Scotland was 46 shots without a goal since then in the tournament.
- Modric has now become the youngest (22 years and 273 days) and the oldest (35 years and 286 days) Croatian to score in the competition.
- Scotland continues to remain eliminated from its 11 group stage appearances in the tournament to date.
England edges past the Czech Republic to top group
In the other game of the evening, England was up against the Czech Republic at the Wembley Stadium in London. Although it turned out to be a great clash, England just managed to ride on the home advantage.
The second half was even more competitive, with just a couple of attacks being registered (one apiece), but to no avail, as Sterling's sole goal counted as the winner. While England tops the group, the Locomotive's fate remains unclear, as it finishes third and would rely on the result of the other groups to qualify as one of the four best third-placed sides.
Stats
- Gareth Southgate managed England in the 57th game, surpassing Roy Hodgson (56), while he is the only Englishman to play and manage 50-plus games for the side.
- Bukayo Saka is the second teenager from Arsenal to start for England after Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
- Sterling is the second Englishman to score the opening two goals for the side in a Euro after Alan Shearer in 1996.
- Tomas Pekhart's attempt in the 83rd minute was the first for Czech in the half since 1980, the longest wait for a side in the same during the tournament.
- England has become the lowest scoring side to top a Euro group, with just a couple of goals.
- Saka completed five take on, the joint-most by an Englishman in Euro/WorldCup since 1966, along with Raheem Sterling and Michael Owen.
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