England

0-0

Croatia


International Friendly
24 April 1996
Wembley Stadium

England's first ever meeting with Croatia came back in April 1996, when they shared a goalless draw with a team many fancied as dark horses for the forthcoming European Championship.

Six of the Croatian team had appeared together in Yugoslavian youth teams which had enjoyed success on the world stage and the depth of their understanding was clearly illustrated early in the match.

Croatia started the game with some beautifully controlled passing sequences, one of which ended after about twenty passes with a dipping shot from the hugely gifted Robert Prosinecki.

But England coped with any threat that the Croatians posed. After proving that they could live with some of the best technical quality in Europe, they finally showed enough patience and stamina to gain the upper hand over their illustrious visitors and ultimately Venables' side would have won easily but for five missed chances.

Apart from that rather wasteful finishing it was a statisfactory England performance two months prior to Euro '96.

A new-look defence, with Mark Wright flanked by Gary Neville and Stuart Pearce, held firm and Gascoigne, fortunately, was in the right sort of mood to charge at a retreating Croat defence.

Chances came and went at regular intervals. Steve Stone timed his run perfectly to collect Robbie Fowler's inviting pass but made a mess of his shot from six yards out.

The Forest winger then released Neville down the right and captain David Platt, starting his first international of that season, darted between defenders to power in a header that was saved by Mrmic.

Folwer, having enjoyed a brilliant season with Liverpool, failed with a weak header from Stone's cross and then - with the Croats' willpoer draining away - missed by a distance when clubmate Steve McManaman set up a straightforward chance.

McManaman himself struck the post with ten minutes to go, with Teddy Sheringham off-target from the rebound.

Team Details

England: Seaman, G Neville, Pearce, Ince, M Wright, McManaman, Platt, Gascoigne, Fowler, Sheringham, Stone

Croatia: Mrmic, Pavlicic (Mladenovic), Jarni, Stimac (Soldo), Jerkan, Bilic, Asanovic, Prosinecki, Suker, Boban (Stanic), Boksic (Pamic)

Referee: Z Przesmycki (Poland)

Attendance: 33,650