Croatia v England - MATCH SUMMARY
Rooney books Portugal date
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| England forward Wayne Rooney shoots and scores against Croatia, 21 June 2004 during their European Nations football championships match at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon. Croatia and England are competing in Group B with France and Switzerland. AFP PHOTO Francois Xavier MARIT |
England set up a quarter-finals clash with hosts Portugal on Monday by overcoming an early Croatia lead to win 4-2 and end Group B second with six points, largely thanks to wonderkid Wayne Rooney.
The nerveless 18-year-old set up England's first and scored the next two and is the toast of England.
"I don't know how I do it," blushed Rooney.
"I just go out there and try to do my best, and the team has done really well by creating the chances for me.
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| Croatia's midfielder Niko Kovac (C) shoots past England goalkeeper David James to score, 21 June 2004 during their European Nations football championships match at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon. Croatia and England are competing in Group B with France and Switzerland. AFP PHOTO Francois Xavier MARIT |
Brave Croatia had grabbed a fourth minute lead when England failed to clear a free-kick in which David James did well to save what would have been a dreadful Ashley Cole own goal, but with the keeper prone Niko Kovac toe-poked home to stun the English, who needed a draw or a win to qualify for the quarters.
They had to wait until the 40th minute for their breakthrough as the Croats tried to defend their early lead.
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| England midfielder Paul Scholes (C) scores against Croatia, 21 June 2004 during their European Nations Championship football match at the Stadium of Light in Lisbon. England and Croatia are competing in Group B with France and Switzerland. |
Paul Scholes, who hadn't scored since June 6, 2001 against Greece, headed home a Wayne Rooney cross. Rooney then smacked home a thunderbolt in first half injury-time to send his side in 2-1 at the break.
England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson was as excited as the unflappable Swede could ever be about the overall performance.
"I think we played very good football in the first-half, as we took over the game," he purred.
With Croatia on the offensive Rooney broke and struck again on 68 minutes to take his personal tally to four from three games in the Euro so far.
Though Croatia reduced the score through an Igor Tudor header five minutes later Frank Lampard restored the two goal cushion ten minutes from time and England were in the quarter-finals.