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Kalvin Philipps (front) set up Sterling's goal
Photo:
Martin Rickett / dpa
England started the European Football Championship with a win.
In the first tournament game at Wembley, where the final will also take place on July 11, the hosts won 1-0 (0-0) against Croatia.
Raheem Sterling scored the opening goal (61st minute) after it became known on the day that the 26-year-old would receive the British Knighthood.
The re-edition of the World Cup final from 2018 got off to a promising start from the point of view of the English.
Full-back Kieran Trippier executed a throw-in in his own half so quickly and, above all, far that it resulted in a counterattack through Sterling.
The Manchester City star put Phil Foden in front of the penalty area, but he failed with a flick on the post (6th).
Just three minutes later, Kalvin Phillips failed after a corner with a direct decrease to Croatian goalkeeper Dominik Livaković (9th).
However, the two closings on the gate were to remain the only ones for a long time.
Croatia's most dangerous finish came from Ivan Perišić, who hit the ball incorrectly after a cross and set it well over the goal (27th).
It only got really dangerous again after a good hour.
England's Phillips got the ball around 20 yards from goal and stuck strong through for Sterling.
Although Croatia's remaining defender Sime Vrsaljko plunged into the opponent and the ball, Sterling put the ball past Livaković in the goal (57th).
Harry Kane missed a possible preliminary decision a little later, but put a sharp cross from Mason Mount over the gate from close range (61.).
But even so it was enough for the English to win.
Jude Bellingham, who rose to become the youngest European Championship player in history at the age of 17, replacing the Dutchman Jetro Willems, set a new record.
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