In nine attempts, it’s never won an opening match at the tournament. England opens another continental campaign at its national stadium against the team that prevented Gareth Southgate’s side reaching the World Cup final three years ago. Led by 2018 World Cup Golden Boot winner Harry Kane, only nine members of that squad made the cut for the expanded 26-man group. Since the World Cup, when Croatia lost the final to France, Zlatko Dalic’s side has lost and drawn with England in the UEFA Nations League. Unlike England, Croatia has won opening matches at the European Championship — four times, in fact, and drawn another.

Source: The Hindu June 12, 2021 22:33 UTC