Match ends, Croatia U21 1, England U21 2.
Croatia U21Croatia U211England U21England U212
England's Under-21s secured their place at next year's European Championship finals as victory in Croatia sealed a 4-2 aggregate win.
After winning the first leg at Molineux 2-1, England made the perfect start in Vinkovci when Liam Moore volleyed home.
Marko Livaja levelled for Croatia before the break with a low finish, but the hosts rarely looked like scoring the further goals needed to progress.
Instead, it was England who sealed victory when Will Hughes swept home.
The win - England's 10th in a row - means they will compete at a fifth consecutive finals, with Euro 2015 - an eight-team tournament - to take place in the Czech Republic in June.
Their appearance at the last tournament, in 2013, was one to forget for England, as they were eliminated at the group stages without winning a game.
However, England's form will certainly give them reason to be optimistic of a better showing next year, with Gareth Southgate's side winning nine of their 10 qualifying group-stage games, scoring 31 goals and conceding just two.
| Euro 2015 | |
|---|---|
| The 2015 European Under-21 Championship finals take place in Czech Republic from 17-30 June | The six other play-off games are Slovakia v Italy, France v Sweden, Denmark v Iceland, Netherlands v Portugal, Ukraine v Germany and Serbia v Spain. |
| The group-stage draw for the finals is in Prague on 6 November | Spain are the holders |
Saido Berahino was key to that impressive form, scoring on nine occasions, and a goal and assist by the West Brom striker had given England a 2-1 aggregate lead heading into Tuesday's second leg in Croatia.
It was a slender advantage, especially with Croatia having scored an away goal, but Leicester defender Moore helped settle England's nerves when he volleyed them into an early lead from Tom Carroll's corner.
Croatia had been lethargic up to that point and, while the goal did wake them up, they did not pose enough of a threat to Jack Butland in the England goal.
But a defensive error got them back into the game when Livaja outmuscled Moore to bring a long ball under control and, with just Butland to beat, the striker made no mistake with a low finish.
That put them within one goal of forcing extra-time but they failed to impose themselves on England, with the away side instead looking the most likely to extend their advantage.
| England U21 coach Gareth Southgate |
|---|
| "I want to show that England teams can play in a different way and, for everything that we're trying to do throughout the age groups, it was important that we qualified." |
That is exactly what they did when, after Berahino hit the post, Hughes stroked home the decisive second for England from the edge of the area.
Southgate said the manner in which his side achieved qualification was important to the national setup.
"We played to our strengths and that's how we've built the team - on possession," said the former England defender.
"I want to show that England teams can play in a different way and, for everything that we're trying to do throughout the age groups, it was important that we qualified."
He added: "We've been playing that way since the start, but we were really conscious that if we wanted to get our message across, we had to do it tonight, under pressure.
"It was clear from the beginning that if we got the ball into midfield our movement, touch and awareness was going to cause a problem.
"We were in control of the game and we didn't want to come here and sit back."
Line-ups
Croatia U21
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 12Livakovic
- 13Milos
- 5Datkovic
- 6Mitrovic
- 3Milic
- 4Bradaric
- 10PasalicSubstituted forCaktasat 67'minutes
- 7Pjaca
- 21HalilovicSubstituted forMisicat 79'minutes
- 11RebicSubstituted forBagaricat 33'minutes
- 14Livaja
Substitutes
- 1Delac
- 8Galovic
- 9Perica
- 16Caktas
- 17Bagaric
- 19Brucic
- 20Misic
England U21
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Butland
- 2Dier
- 6Moore
- 5Gibson
- 3Shaw
- 4HughesBooked at 56mins
- 8Forster-Caskey
- 10Carroll
- 11RedmondSubstituted forInceat 85'minutes
- 9Kane
- 7Berahino
Substitutes
- 12Garbutt
- 13Bond
- 14Pritchard
- 15Lascelles
- 16Baker
- 17Ince
- 18Woodrow
- Referee:
- Clément Turpin
Match Stats
Home TeamCroatia U21Away TeamEngland U21
- Possession
- Home41%
- Away59%
- Shots
- Home10
- Away14
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away5
- Corners
- Home2
- Away8
- Fouls
- Home14
- Away8
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Croatia U21 1, England U21 2.
Post update
Corner, England U21. Conceded by Matej Mitrovic.
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Foul by Harry Kane (England U21).
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Mato Milos (Croatia U21) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt missed. Antonio Milic (Croatia U21) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Marko Livaja.
Substitution
Substitution, England U21. Tom Ince replaces Nathan Redmond.
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Foul by Harry Kane (England U21).
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Mato Milos (Croatia U21) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt blocked. Harry Kane (England U21) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by Nathan Redmond.
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Attempt missed. Petar Misic (Croatia U21) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Drazen Bagaric.
Substitution
Substitution, Croatia U21. Petar Misic replaces Alen Halilovic.
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Corner, England U21. Conceded by Matej Mitrovic.
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Jake Forster-Caskey (England U21) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Alen Halilovic (Croatia U21).
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Jake Forster-Caskey (England U21) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Mijo Caktas (Croatia U21).
Goal!
Goal! Croatia U21 1, England U21 2. Will Hughes (England U21) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Harry Kane.
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Attempt saved. Harry Kane (England U21) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Luke Shaw.
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Harry Kane (England U21) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
