Croatia v England, 21 June 2004

Score4-2 to England
RefereePierluigi Collina
CompetitionUEFA European Championship Finals Group B
VenueEstádio da Luz, Lisbon
Attendance57,047
Kick-off: 7.45pm local and BST Assistant referees: Marco Ivaldi (Italy) Narciso Pisacreta (Italy) Fourth official: Manuel Mejuto González (Spain) Man of the Match: Wayne Rooney (England) Wayne Rooney scored twice as England came from behind to defeat Croatia in Lisbon and progress to the UEFA EURO 2004 quarter-finals. England's win secured second spot in Group B and a quarter-final meeting with hosts Portugal here on Thursday. Sven-Göran Eriksson's side had trailed to Niko Kovač's fifth-minute opener before two goals at the end of the first half. Rooney assisted Paul Scholes for the first and the midfielder returned the favour on the stroke of half-time. Rooney sealed England's progress with his fourth goal of the competition after 68 minutes before Igor Tudor and Frank Lampard traded goals. England, unchanged from the victory over Switzerland, were quickly in their stride and Michael Owen's early break promised much before Dario Šimić's well-timed interception. Croatia responded and scored with their first attack as England's set-piece vulnerability was again exposed. David Beckham conceded a free-kick on the right and Milan Rapaić's excellent delivery caused chaos in the England defence. David James was forced to parry Ashley Cole's skewed attempt at a clearance and midfielder Niko Kovač pounced to squeeze in the rebound. England almost issued an immediate riposte but Tomislav Butina saved smartly from Scholes. Croatia responded with an attack of their own and James had to be alert to save from Tomislav Šokota. Back came England, with Rooney particularly prominent, but Croatia gave a reminder of their own menace when Dado Pršo's shot from the edge of the box was saved by James. Suitably warned, England finally drew level five minutes before half-time. Butina was forced off his line to deny Owen, put through by Lampard's pass, and the ball broke to Rooney. The forward headed goalwards with Scholes applying a close-range headed finish; his first international goal since June 2001. The roles were reversed a minute into added time as a good passing move culminated in Scholes teeing up Rooney 20 metres from goal. The striker took one touch and lashed the ball beyond Butina. The England duo combined again soon after the restart with a threaded Rooney pass setting up Scholes but his fierce shot from 25 metres was well saved by Butina at full stretch. Again England came close to sealing the win but Owen chipped narrowly over after a swift break. Needing victory to progress, Croatia responded and Šokota's fine low ball somehow eluded his team-mates. Pršo then did well to create space on the edge of the area but his subsequent shot was blocked. Giovanni Rosso fired in a further shot just after the hour as Croatia attacked with purpose. The match slipped from their grasp when Owen's excellent pass on the turn played through Rooney, who again belied his tender years with an assured finish. It was pretty much his last act: he went off to a rapturous reception, having all but taken England beyond the first stage of the UEFA European Championship final for the first time on foreign soil. Not quite, as Croatia creditably hit back within minutes when Tudor headed in from a free-kick, but Lampard cancelled that strike out after 79 minutes with a typical run and shot beyond Butina.

2  Croatia

Manager: Otto Barić

4  England

Manager: Sven-Göran Eriksson

Goals:

Niko Kovač 5 G
Igor Tudor 73 G

Goals:

Paul Scholes 40 G
Wayne Rooney 45 G
Wayne Rooney 68 G
Frank Lampard 79 G

Starting lineup:

Goalkeeper Tomislav Butina
Defender Robert Kovač
Defender Dario Simić
Defender Josip Simunić
Defender Igor Tudor
Defender Boris Zivković (captain)
Midfielder Niko Kovač
Midfielder Milan Rapaić
Midfielder Giovanni Rosso
Forward Dado Pršo
Forward Tomislav Sokota

Starting lineup:

David James Goalkeeper
Sol Campbell Defender
Ashley Cole Defender
Gary Neville Defender
John Terry Defender
David Beckham Midfielder (captain)
Steven Gerrard Midfielder
Frank Lampard Midfielder
Paul Scholes Midfielder
Michael Owen Forward
Wayne Rooney Forward

Substitutions:

Ivica Mornar for Robert Kovač 46
Ivica Olić for Milan Rapaić 55
Darijo Srna for Dario Simić 67

Substitutions:

Ledley King for Paul Scholes 70
Darius Vassell for Wayne Rooney 71
Phil Neville for Frank Lampard 84

Cards:

Dario Simić 63 Y

Cards:

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Joey Didulica
Goalkeeper Vladimir Vasilj
Defender Mato Neretljak
Defender Darijo Srna
Defender Mario Tokić
Defender Stjepan Tomas
Midfielder Marko Babić
Midfielder Jerko Leko
Forward Nenad Bjelica
Forward Ivan Klasnić
Forward Ivica Mornar
Forward Ivica Olić

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Paul Robinson
Goalkeeper Ian Walker
Defender Wayne Bridge
Defender Jamie Carragher
Defender Ledley King
Defender Phil Neville
Midfielder Nicky Butt
Midfielder Joe Cole
Midfielder Kieron Dyer
Midfielder Owen Hargreaves
Forward Emile Heskey
Forward Darius Vassell

2  Croatia

Manager: Otto Barić

Goals:

Niko Kovač 5 G
Igor Tudor 73 G

Starting lineup:

Goalkeeper Tomislav Butina
Defender Robert Kovač
Defender Dario Simić
Defender Josip Simunić
Defender Igor Tudor
Defender Boris Zivković (captain)
Midfielder Niko Kovač
Midfielder Milan Rapaić
Midfielder Giovanni Rosso
Forward Dado Pršo
Forward Tomislav Sokota

Substitutions:

Ivica Mornar for Robert Kovač 46
Ivica Olić for Milan Rapaić 55
Darijo Srna for Dario Simić 67

Cards:

Dario Simić 63 Y

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Joey Didulica
Goalkeeper Vladimir Vasilj
Defender Mato Neretljak
Defender Darijo Srna
Defender Mario Tokić
Defender Stjepan Tomas
Midfielder Marko Babić
Midfielder Jerko Leko
Forward Nenad Bjelica
Forward Ivan Klasnić
Forward Ivica Mornar
Forward Ivica Olić

4  England

Manager: Sven-Göran Eriksson

Goals:

Paul Scholes 40 G
Wayne Rooney 45 G
Wayne Rooney 68 G
Frank Lampard 79 G

Starting lineup:

David James Goalkeeper
Sol Campbell Defender
Ashley Cole Defender
Gary Neville Defender
John Terry Defender
David Beckham Midfielder (captain)
Steven Gerrard Midfielder
Frank Lampard Midfielder
Paul Scholes Midfielder
Michael Owen Forward
Wayne Rooney Forward

Substitutions:

Ledley King for Paul Scholes 70
Darius Vassell for Wayne Rooney 71
Phil Neville for Frank Lampard 84

Cards:

On the bench:

Goalkeeper Paul Robinson
Goalkeeper Ian Walker
Defender Wayne Bridge
Defender Jamie Carragher
Defender Ledley King
Defender Phil Neville
Midfielder Nicky Butt
Midfielder Joe Cole
Midfielder Kieron Dyer
Midfielder Owen Hargreaves
Forward Emile Heskey
Forward Darius Vassell