Match Day Thread England v Croatia

Come on England 2pm kick off


Match facts
Head-to-head

• This is the third meeting between England and Croatia at a major tournament (World Cup, Euros). The Three Lions beat Croatia 4-2 in the group stages at Euro 2004, while Croatia won 2-1 after extra-time in the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup.

England

• England are taking part in their 10th European Championship - no team has played as many games in the tournament without ever reaching the final (31 matches, 0 final).
• The Three Lions have never lost at Wembley in a major tournament (World Cup 1966, Euro 1996), winning seven and drawing four of their previous 11 games (penalty shoot-outs excluded).
• England have never won their opening game at a European Championship (D5 L4).
• Boss Gareth Southgate will be leading England for a second major tournament (excluding Nations League) after World Cup 2018 (4th place). At Euro 1996, he was one of only three England players to play all 510 minutes, alongside David Seaman and Tony Adams - he missed a penalty in the semi-final shootout against Germany.

Croatia

• Croatia are taking part in their sixth European Championship, and their fifth in a row.
• Penalty shootouts excluded, Croatia have lost only two of their past 11 European Championship games, both 1-0 defeats (against Spain in 2012 and Portugal in 2016).
• Ivan Perisic has been directly involved in more goals than any other player for Croatia in major tournament history (7 goals and 4 assists in World Cup/Euros - excluding Nations League).
• Boss Zlatko Dalic - in charge since October 2017 - is only the second manager to lead Croatia at two consecutive major tournaments (World Cup & Euros), after Miroslav Blazevic (Euro 1996, World Cup 1998).

 

It appears not enough forward planning has been given to the centre of defence in the absence key defenders.

 

The hit HBO series Game of Thrones was filmed on the Dalmatian coast in Split and Dubrovnik.

The population of Croatia is 4.25 million (2013)

Croatia has an unknown number of dialects. Those dialects can make it difficult for Croatians to understand one another.

The necktie, worn by business people around the world, is from Croatia. As it was named, the cravat originated from Croatian soldiers who served as mercenaries for the King of France.

In Croatian, the country name is Hrvatska, and the language is called Hrvatski.

Hum, in Istria, is the world’s smallest town.

Croatian Faust Vrančić designed the first wind turbine.

A Croatian named Rudjer Boskovic who suggested placing five concentric iron bands on the dome of St. Peter’s when a crack had been discovered. His suggestion was adopted and saved Michelangelo’s work from being ruined.

Croatian-born Nikola Tesla invented the alternating current.

Croatian Slavoljub Penkala invented a mechanical pencil, called the Penkala in 1906. Today we call it “pen.”

Ivan Vucetic- criminologist and anthropologist, was born on the island of Hvar (later emigrated to Argentina and was known as Juan) was the pioneer of scientific dactyloscopy (identification by fingerprints), and his methods of identification are used worldwide.

On the island of Susak, the women hold the title for having the only national costume that sits above the knee in Europe.

Inhabited for over 8,000 years, the eastern Croatian city of Vinkovci is the oldest continuously inhabited city in Europe.

Constructed by Ivan Lupis Vukic in Rijeka in the 19th century was the world’s first torpedo.

Croatian writer Marko Marulić is credited with the first known use of the word psychology (in the title deeds Psichiologia de ratione animaeHumanae), meaning the science of the soul.

The Mag Light was invented by a Croatian named Maglica

 

So many jokes, so many sneers,
But all those oh-so-nears,
Wear you down
Through the years.


I've had 50 years of this.


But I still see that tackle by Moore,
And when Linekar scored,
Bobby belting the ball
And Nobby Dancing.




I don't actually remember watching Germany 3 England 2 - you're taking Charlton off? Seriously?

But it started there.


Tomaszewski - the Clown - is etched on my brain.

Quiz Question? Who didn't lose a single game in the 1982 World Cup Finals but were eliminated anyway?


If only Psycho had held his nerve? (It takes some bollocks to go up and do it again a few years later mind).

If only Gazza's leg was an inch longer.

If only David Seaman hasn't chosen a particularly inopportune moment to practice his baby giraffe on iceskates routine.



Fifty years of hurt,
Never stopped me dreaming.



It's coming home?

 

England Expects and so do some up North

Come on England,put your stamp on this tournament from the first blow of the whistle...2-0!!! U.T.T.L(up the three lions).

 

Is it not a lion, a lioness and a cub these days?

 

You can't win anything with kids, or without scoring goals

 

Probably better if both Gazza's legs had been an inch longer. He'd have had terrible back trouble if not.

Other than that you are quite correct...as usual

 

We'll lose 0-1

Dreadful start unfortunately.

 

He'd have been a sniper's nightmare!

 

Pretty sure one of them is gender neutral these days and vegetarian

 

Dennis?

 

They were originally leopards. The England Table Tennis Team have stuck with them.

 

Looking forward to this one, we need revenge for their win in the semi finals of the WC.

Will Gareth be brave and play Grealish/Fodan/Mount? Probably not, Rice & Phillips more likely in midfield!

 

It’s a bit embarrassing but I have no idea who Phillips is!
Rice has to play he’s the holding midfield and looks a really good prospect

 

Can see an overly defensive line up leading to a cagey game and a draw at best. I really hope I'm wrong though and we go with pace up top and drop 2 of grelish bellingham and foden into a midfield 3 with rice. Let our talented players dictate the play in the middle of the park instead of just having limited defensive blockers.

 

Vegan surely?

 

Used to play for Sunderland
I thought he’d be too old now but what do I know?