England vs Croatia: UEFA Nations League latest score, goals and updates
- Today’s winner will qualify for the Nations League finals and the loser will be relegated
- Any draw would hand Spain the group – a score draw would relegate England, while 0-0 would send Croatia down
- Croatia will be without Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic
- Croatia overcame the Three Lions in extra-time of their World Cup semi-final
ENGLAND vs CROATIA
Programme notes
12:35: Gareth Southgate has challenged his Three Lions to finish 2018 on a good note in today’s programme.
“2018 is a year which we can look back on with pride and we’ve had different steps throughout it,” Southgate said. “The last two months have been really positive and we want to make sure we end an exciting year for the England team really well.
“We know that we have to prove ourselves every time we go on the pitch and we’ve still got to keep building. I had hoped that what we would do over the course of the year would connect the fans back to the team and when I travel around that country now, that still feels strong.
“I think people are engaged in how we’re trying to play and they recognise that we’re not perfect every time but we’re trying to excite our supporters and develop a winning mentality.”
Twitter round-up
Todd: Job’s to do this morning. 1) Dig out waistcoat. 2) Play Three Lions and Atomic Kitten on repeat. 3) Practise throwing plastic pint glasses in the air. 4) Reliving the summer for today’s huge game!
Jack: We’re in a European QF this afternoon and I can’t wait! Revenge pending…
Bradley: If Southgate has learned anything from the semi-final loss to Croatia, It’s to play two midfielders capable of keeping the ball and capable of defending. Henderson was isolated last time. My pick Winks and Dier or Dier/Barkley.
Permutations…
12:30: I’ve grown an irrational hatred of the word ‘permutations’ for some reason.
I think it’s because anything that follows is inevitably complicated and inevitably England supporters trying to figure out how we can possibly squeeze through in a competition…
Anyway, the winner of today’s game will qualify for the finals and the loser will be relegated. Any draw would hand Spain the group – a score draw would relegate England, while 0-0 would send Croatia down.
Whatever the result, the game promises to be entertaining especially given the recent history between the two sides.
Afternoon
12:25: Hello everyone, and welcome to our LIVE coverage of the UEFA Nations League.
Just another boring international break? Nope!
We have a genuine high-stakes, winner-takes-all showdown this afternoon as England host Croatia at Wembley.
“Really? Well what’s on offer,” said nobody but for the purposes of this blog I need to imagine.
Glad you asked. The short answer is EVERYTHING. The slightly longer answer will follow in the next update.
Gone full X-Factor on you with that teasing cliff-hanger…
Early team news
England’s entire 25-man squad trained yesterday as Gareth Southgate fine-tuned preparations for the Nations League encounter with Croatia.
Today’s match at Wembley is a winner-takes-all clash, with the Three Lions winning Group A4 and reaching the Finals should they beat their World Cup semi-final foes.
Southgate is planning widespread changes from Thursday’s 3-0 friendly win against the United States, where Wayne Rooney bid farewell to the national team with a 120th and final cap.
The 33-year-old has now left a group that has been bolstered by the return of Joe Gomez and Luke Shaw, having missed the USA friendly with minor knocks.
The duo trained on Friday and were again in action at Tottenham’s training ground on Saturday as the 25-strong group knuckled down.