ENGLAND clinched first place in Euro 2020 Group D with a 1-0 win against the Czech Republic, while Luka Modric’s rocket propelled Croatia into the last 16 after beating Scotland 3-1 Tuesday.

Croatia joined the Czech Republic and England in the knockout stages of Euro 2020.

Croatia leapfrogged the Czechs in the Group D standing by virtue of goals scored as England claimed top spot in the group, Raheem Sterling netting the winner in the first half. Gareth Southgate’s players have set themselves on course for a clash with the runner-up of Group F, potentially Germany, at Wembley Stadium next week.

An England side that included four changes from the team that had labored to a goalless draw against Scotland — most notably Jack Grealish replacing the isolating Mason Mount and Bukayo Saka coming in for suspension risk Phil Foden — started far more effectively than they had in Friday night with Gareth Southgate’s two new forwards sparkling down the flanks.

England’s goal began with Saka’s spin and sprint away from Tomas Soucek before he advanced from his own defensive third to the Czech danger area. Smart interplay with Kalvin Phillips advanced the hosts into the area and whilst the move looked to be floundering after a heavy cross Grealish judged his delivery to perfection. Tomas Vaclik could not quite reach the looping delivery but Sterling could, heading home his and England’s second goal of the tournament.

He might have had a hat trick in the first half. Before his goal a delicate clip over the Czech goalkeeper died agonizingly on the far post. In the 25th minute Harry Kane opted not to square to Sterling — who may have been offside — but his curling effort was denied by the steel wrist of Vaclik.

The returning Harry Maguire also offered England ball progression from deep that they had lacked against Scotland without costing them the defensive stability that Tyrone Mings had offered alongside John Stones. He looks well-placed to start for the Three Lions going into the knockout stages, where he may be joined by Jordan Henderson, who managed his first 45 minutes of the tournament as a half time substitute for Declan Rice. (SD-Agencies)