Euro 2020 matchday three: Raheem Sterling gets England up and running
Gareth Southgate’s side saw off Croatia, while there were also wins for Austria and Holland.
England won their opening match at the European Championships for the first time with a 1-0 Euro 2020 Group D victory over Croatia at Wembley.
Raheem Sterling, who has now been directly involved in 19 goals in his last 17 England matches with 13 goals and six assists, converted man-of-the-match Kalvin Phillips’ pass early in the second half to get Gareth Southgate’s side off to the ideal start.
England’s players left the pitch to a chorus of 1996 anthem ‘Football’s Coming Home’ from the majority of the 22,500 fans inside the stadium.
In Group C, North Macedonia’s first appearance at a major tournament ended in a 3-1 defeat against Austria, who recorded their first win at a Euros, while Holland, who failed to qualify for the last World Cup and Euros, made up for lost time with an entertaining 3-2 win over Ukraine.
Tweet of the day
England substitute Jude Bellingham, who set a new record for the youngest player to feature in the tournament’s history at 17 years and 349 days, appears to have a celebrity fan.
Arnautovic on the Mark
Quote of the day
Holland almost blow return to the big stage
Holland squandered a two-goal lead on their return to major tournament football after a seven-year absence, only to score an 85th-minute winner to beat Ukraine 3-2 in Amsterdam.
Stat attack
North Macedonia’s Goran Pandev played in his first major tournament 7,312 days after his international debut. The Genoa forward celebrated by scoring his 38th international goal a month before his 38th birthday – unfortunately his side lost 3-1 to Austria
Up next?
June 14:
Scotland v Czech Republic (Group D, Glasgow, 1400)
Poland v Slovakia (Group E, St Petersburg, 1700)
Spain v Sweden (Group E, Seville 2000)
