England U21 slips despite Morgan Gibbs penalty against Croatia
England Under-21s slipped 2-1 against Croatia in their last warm-up game ahead of this summer's European Championships. Lee Carsley's side were looking to England Under-21s slipped 2-1 against Croatia in their last warm-up game ahead of this summer's European Championships. Morgan Gibbs-White from the penalty spot was the only consolation for the hosts, who were looking to sign off for Georgia in a fourth of four friendlies. Croatia took the lead in the 34th minute after debutant Rico Lewis was booked for tripping Lukas Kacavenda outside the box. Martin Baturina stepped forward to circle a superb 20-metre free-kick into James Trafford’s near post, but with Gareth Southgate watching from the stands, the hosts failed to level on a frustrating night in west London.
Published : 2 months ago by Caleb Ball in
England Under-21s slipped 2-1 against Croatia in their last warm-up game ahead of this summer’s European Championships. Lee Carsley’s side were looking to sign off for Georgia in a fourth of four friendlies after beating Germany, Italy and France 4-0 on Saturday.
But Carsley changed all 10 fielders for their last voting game and they had only a late consolation from Morgan Gibbs-White from the penalty spot to show up for a ragged performance at Craven Cottage.
Not only the English senior teams have a recent history with Croatia; The Under-21s were on their way to the quarter-finals at the last European Championships when full-back Domagoj Bradaric eliminated them at the last second on goal difference despite a 2-1 win.
Curtis Jones scored in that game and the Liverpool youngster had England’s first shot on goal blocked by goalkeeper Dominik Kotarski after a cross from Manchester City’s Cole Palmer.
The lively Palmer then found Tommy Doyle, who failed to repeat his spectacular FA Cup winner from long-range for Sheffield United against Blackburn nine days ago, this time his shot went over the bar.
Instead, Croatia took the lead in the 34th minute after debutant Rico Lewis was booked for tripping Lukas Kacavenda outside the box. Martin Baturina stepped forward to circle a superb 20-metre free-kick into James Trafford’s near post.
Carsley made just one substitution at half-time, replacing Bolton’s loanee goalkeeper Trafford from Manchester City and giving West Brom’s Josh Griffiths his debut. But Griffiths’ first task was to face a penalty after Luke Thomas awkwardly brought down Matija Frigan in the box. Dion Drena Beljo coolly sent Griffiths off the spot in the wrong direction to double the Croatian lead.
Griffiths did well to limit the damage with a clever close-range save to thwart Kacavenda and another fine stop to keep Gabriel Vidovic away. For the hosts, Palmer and Jacob Ramsey both stabbed Kotarski’s hands, who then made a stunning save from substitute Gibbs-White’s header.
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England finally went on the scoresheet with four minutes to go when Kotarski stumbled Gibbs-White in the box and the Nottingham Forest man saved the spot-kick. But with Gareth Southgate watching from the stands, the hosts failed to level on a frustrating night in west London.