Probable Lineups
Probable Lineups Statistical Comparison
Goals
Assists
(6.6)
6.8
Average Ratings
6.5
(6.4)
29
Average Age
31.6
183.4
Average Height (cm)
183.4
(1.1)
1.2
Shots pg
1.2
(1.2)
(58%)
62%
Aerial Duel Success
45%
(42%)
(0.6)
1.1
Dribbles pg
0.7
(0.5)
(0.8)
1
Tackles pg
1.3
(1.1)
* Values in brackets (x) are overall player statistics in UEFA Nations League A Grp. 4.
Missing Players
England
Croatia
| Player | Reason | Status | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kieran Trippier | Out | 6.54 | |
| Luke Shaw | Doubtful | 7.01 | |
| Joe Gomez | Doubtful | 6.57 |
| Player | Reason | Status | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Josip Pivaric | Out | 6.56 | |
| Ivan Rakitic | Out | 6.39 |
Team News
England
Croatia
- Joseph Gomez and Luke Shaw are both managing knocks and are doubts for Sunday's group decider against Croatia. Kieran Trippier withdrew from the squad prior to their 3-0 win over USA on Thursday.
- Gareth Southgate named a fringe side against USA and will name his strongest available XI at home to Croatia this weekend.
- Jesse Lingard impressed against USA and could edge Marcus Rashford for a place in England's starting XI, while Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling will complete the attack.
- Jordan Henderson, Eric Dier, Dele Alli, Harry Winks and Ross Barkley are the frontrunners to make up England's midfield three.
- Ivan Rakitic is a serious doubt for Croatia after coming off against Spain with a hamstring complaint. Mateo Kovacic is in line to deputise the Barcelona midfielder on Sunday.
- Ante Rebic and Andrej Kramaric should get the nod in attacking positions, while back-up left-back Tin Jedvaj will continue after his match-winning performance against Spain.
Croatia are the most over-rated team of all time.
England's form slipped at certain points (which I'll admit is often the norm), but they were deserving in the end and the fact they've topped their group in spite of tough opponents is refreshing. They did fail to score from their chances in the first half (Kalinic is more than a worthy replacement for Subasic, was very impressed with him today), and on the whole, there's still some way to go if they're going to win at least one knockout match, but the absence of Trippier and Maguire can't have helped. Still, I can't imagine previous England squads coming back to win from the situation they faced after 60 min. I agree with others that Sancho deserved more time on the pitch, if not take a place in the starting XI. Croatia, in spite of tiredness, had a very impressive defence in addition to their GK, and looked more assertive in taking their chances. Given the way they've played, it's harsh that they are the ones being relegated, IMO no-one in this group deserves it.
CAn someone pls explain what's a key pass?
@GioMonaldo it's a pass leading up to an attempt on goal
Order of Croatia back four is wrong @Whoscored.
Southgate showing muddled thinking with his selection again. For a 4-3-3 to have a player like Dier in it isn't necessary for a start. But to then have Delph in the side too, it's neither here nor there. If you pick Dier it's basically like having an extra centre back. Then you need Loftus-Cheek or Lingard to play where Delph is from the start. Lingard is a great player for England and ought to be one of the first names on the sheet. Lingard has performed so much for England, yet Southgate stays loyal to Sterling and Rashford who have rarely ever performed for England. I find that strange. I'd like to see Sancho on from the start instead of Rashford. England need to get Kane in the game more than they are, especially with Sterling's appalling goals per game record for England. A good win for England, but I don't especially rate Croatia.They made hard work of them again after playing like dross in the world cup (which was mostly the fault of the manager shoehorning them into 5-3-2/3-5-2
@Champion I also think Rashford as an inside forward, then Sterling as a winger (who is struggling badly for end product for England) isn't in the best interests of Kane at all. It's amazing Kane scores as much as he does for England considering the tactical set ups and personnel Southgate has used around him at times.
Fair play to England, I must admit, I haven't allowed myself to be excited by this UEFA Nations league, but England winning that difficult group has perked my interest and will be watching now.
@Geolardo Croatia were very pumped up after beating Spain, I think the teams are super serious about the competition.
This Croatia's team spirit and mentality is certainly one of the best I've ever seen in football. You could really see the pride they feel for their country by just watching them play.
Jedvaj was a champion two days ago and now he made 2 errors on both goals. That's how quickly things change in football. That shows how things work in football and even life. Croatia played a tremendous game considering they were missing key players. In addition,they ran 122km just two days ago. They dipped physically and mentally towards the end and that cost them the game. England sometimes doesn't play like a big team especially in key moments. They lack maturity and character in some phases. They have great potential on a footballing level but they lack players with characters. Good teams have players with characters and apart from Dier and Kane, they lack in that department imo. It's not a about just quality in football. They were not as good as they should have been with and without the ball in the midfield line. They lack a player with characteristics of someone like Winks.
@CirdomAkul Jedvaj is quite young still so it is only normal his form oscillates, you can see this how he plays in his club as well...sometimes it is even from game to game...he is only 22 though. Also quite a few other very young players on this Croatian team as well such as Vlasic (21), Brekalo (20), Marko Rog (23), Milic is 24 but this was his only 3rd appearance for the NT, etc. Seems Croatia is currently doing a slow transition into some new generation that is still to come.
@moo13 I really liked Brekalo's performances is these two games. Do you think he'll have a great future ?
Tottenham won
@aymane.spur For a change.
Kinda stupid to schedule Croatia Spain and Croatia England in a two-day span when England just had a friendly against the US. Great game but fairly obvious Croatia came into this game tired.
@Lechiffre10 Yes, it is an excuse. And a very lame one at that.
@Lechiffre10 Stupid? This is UEFA! the organisation competing at the stupid olympics with FIFA.
@Lechiffre10 This is the most stupid excuse, England had the same schedule when they were facing Spain away and they won 3-2.
@Byakuya that doesn’t even make sense it’s not an excuse. More club games played since and champions league. But try again.
I can see Croatia snatching a win.
1-1
3-2
England 0-2 Croatia
@shakes I'll be shocked if England do not win 2-0.
@SeuneMilmas So it will be England 2-0 for shure than ... ;-)
2-1
England will win 1-0 or 2-0 MAX.
I see no reason to change the team from the one which beat Spain, injury permitting. Winks/Dier/Barkley in midfield had pressing ability, organisation and dynamism. Although Croatia have a world class midfield whichever 3 of 4 they pick (Rakitic will likely miss the game through injury, luckily), Spain also had one and our midfield did fine in that game (especially Winks who looked the most 'Spanish' CM on the pitch) so I believe Southgate has to back the players who performed so well that night and resist the urge to go defensive as a reaction to what happened at the world cup. Croatia at Wembley? Nothing can go wrong. I do see a tougher bunch of players than the XI we started that fateful night back in '07, and subjectively more quality on the ball throughout the team, but this will be tough. The fact we have to win can be a blessing or a curse. With good teams, it's always a blessing and I'm hoping that we are a good team in the making. 2-1 England.
@SteveHyland Trippier is out which is a blow offensively but Walkers physicality could be important against Perisic. Barkley should definitely start instead of Alli as he suits much better in CM position. I would consider starting Loftus-Cheek instead of Winks or Dier but latter two would be safer option. I think Sterling is better on the right so Rashford or Lingard should start as left forward. Croatia seem to have recovered from World Cup by now beating Spain recently and will control midfield again against England who's best chance is on counter attacks (rather than set pieces this time). I'd see a draw the most likely result but it could go either way in the end.
@Castle- Yeah, I fully expect us to play on the counter- be it by design or enforced. It's unrealistic to expect to dominate a midfield of Modric/Brozovic/Kovacic. We edged possession in Rijeka, but that was a poor quality match and we faced a team low in confidence. Playing on the counter actually suits the 4-3-3 as Southgate utilises it, so that's what I hope actually happens. Vrsaljko can be out of position at times and I'd fancy us to get some joy down their right side of defence, whoever we start there. Kane has a good history against Lovren as well. On a side note, it is going to be terribly unjust whoever is relegated from this group when Portugal, Italy and Poland are all worse than the least good team in G4. UEFA probably should have had three groups of 4 and abandon the friendlies to make way for the extra fixtures.
England will crumble under Wembley pressure. We have good chance here.