World Cup qual. - More English Wembley woe?

Eurosport - Thu, 10 Sep 06:48:00 2009

Croatia come to Wembley to face England in a potentially decisive World Cup qualifier boasting an outstanding away record.

2007 England-Croatia Steven Gerrard Eduardo - 0

Since the 2006 World Cup, Slaven Bilic's side have lost just one of 17 games on the road.

Their only defeat was a Euro 2008 qualifier against Macedonia in Skopje - a match of little importance as they found out mid-way through that they had qualified for the tournament.

Four days later they shattered the hopes of Steve McClaren's England with a famous 3-2 win in the Wembley rain.

The Croats have won 12, drawn four and lost one on their travels - a 69 per cent win ratio that is vastly superior to England's away record and better even than their record at Wembley.

Bilic believes it is no coincidence that his players perform better away from the couldron of Zagreb's Maksimir stadium.

"Sometimes when we play at home we approach the game like it lasts for 15 minutes," he said.

"So if we don't score early, or the opponent keeps the ball for a minute, or has a corner kick or a chance, then we panic in defence. It doesn't happen when we play away. We are much calmer, we wait and then we play well."

Croatia did not wait long to play well the last time they came to London, going two goals up inside 14 minutes through Niko Kranjcar and Ivica Olic in November 2007.

England hit back, with goals from Frank Lampard and Peter Crouch putting them in line for the point they needed to reach Euro 2008, but Mladen Petric's stunning late winner ensured the Three Lions spent their summer at the beach and McClaren received the sack.

The home side are desperate to erase memories of that heartache. Earlier this week Steven Gerrard said: "The England players are still hurting from that result and that performance, and we need to use that to motivate us to try to get the win on Wednesday."

His midfield partner Frank Lampard described the Wembley setback as: "A low point in all of our careers and in England's recent history."

England go into the latest instalment of the rivalry on a high with seven wins out of seven in qualifying, but anyone expecting an easy ride against Croatia could be in for a nasty shock.

CROATIA SINCE 2006 WORLD CUP

(Away record includes Euro 2008 game versus Austria in Vienna, excludes Euro 2008 games played on neutral grounds against Germany, Poland and Turkey)

Home - Won 9, drawn 2, lost 2 - 69% win record

Away - Won 12, drawn 4, lost 1 - 71% win record

Neutral - Won 2, drawn 1, lost 0 - 67% win record

Total - Won 23, drawn 7, lost 3 - 70% win record

ENGLAND SINCE 2006 WORLD CUP

Home - Won 12, drawn 3, lost 3 - 67% win record

Away - Won 10, drawn 3, lost 4 - 59% win record

Total - Won 22, drawn 6, lost 7 - 63% win record

Eurosport

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  1. I hope Gerrard isnt played on the left wing again -­ what a pathetic decision to put him there.
    Obviously­ Capello favours Lampard in the centre so just drop­ gerrard and bring him on later as a sub

    All he did on­ saturday was wander back into the middle anyway, and­ when he did stay on the left his attempts at crossing­ the ball were sunday league level, he hit the first­ defender or kicked the ball too hard - the man is not a­ winger so drop him for someone who is

    From peteandphoenix, on Wed 9 Sep 2:12AM

  2. I think that england will win this game. only because­ the mannager is not english. If it is english manager­ in control i bet he will bring on Owen or even recall­ Alan shearer from retirement in place of better striker­ than they. Problem with most english manager is that­ they buckle under pressure. Up England for me today.

    From Guita _Karmal, on Wed 9 Sep 1:36AM

  3. Leave Glenn Johnson alone
    True he is probably better­ going forward but this is true of many full­ backs.
    Patrice Evra is better going forward but I­ notice United are using him in a more advanced position­ this season with a full back filling in behind him.

    From rblackhurst2004, on Wed 9 Sep 1:26AM

  4. corneilius
    In English please
    What are you trying to­ say?

    From rblackhurst2004, on Wed 9 Sep 1:17AM

  5. Whatever the result I would not be surprised.
    England­­ are doing enough to win matches but I would expect­­ Croatia to finish second in the group.
    Forget about­ the­ win in the away tie Croatia had a defender sent­ off but­ they are a very good side a side who always­ seem to­ qualify for major tournaments (World Cups and­ European­ Championships).

    From rblackhurst2004, on Wed 9 Sep 1:10AM

  6. AT LEESHT BUBBLES HESHA SEN SA HOOMIR !

    From corneilius, on Tue 8 Sep 11:12PM

  7. Steve McClaren was a Joke... he could make Brazil look­ Rubish.. so lets not worry we have a Manger now.. not­ an Idiot who did nothing and had done nothing

    From john henry, on Tue 8 Sep 10:16PM
  8. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    glen johnson is poopoo ,thats why he plays for­ scumverpool

    From mr smellymop, on Tue 8 Sep 10:15PM

  9. Nobody can answer why lost to Croatia that day. It is­ almost the same guys. They should have won then and­ they must win tomorrow. GOOD LUCK

    From Alban, on Tue 8 Sep 10:14PM

  10. Don't wanna see Gerrard saying "we are sorry!­ we are really sorry!!!" with his eyebrow twisted. ­ As a world-class, he doesn't deserve this.

    From sexy.beast08, on Tue 8 Sep 10:11PM

  11. ya wouldnt be able 4 me. haha. come on ireland

    From kevin, on Tue 8 Sep 10:08PM

  12. LMFAO KEVDOORLEY, PHIL BABB!!!!! HAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHA,­ DONT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT OUR STEVIE AGAIN OR ILL ROB YA­ WHEELTRIMS N CAR RADIO!!!!

    From psycho p, on Tue 8 Sep 10:02PM

  13. TOM M , I AGREE ON THE PORTUGAL COMMENT, NO RONALDO­ AT THE WC WUD MAKE ME LAFF SO HARD I WUD PROLLY DIE!!

    From psycho p, on Tue 8 Sep 10:01PM

  14. CAN ANYONE DONATE SUM NICOTINE PATCHES TO BILIC AS­ WEMBLEY IS A NO SMOKING VENUE!!!!

    From psycho p, on Tue 8 Sep 10:00PM

  15. s

    From vedran, on Tue 8 Sep 10:00PM

  16. THE SLATE IS WIPED CLEAN HERE!!!...............ENGLAND­ AND CROATIA WILL DRAW ,.................I THINK START­ WITH HESKEY/ROONEY THEN SWITCH TO DEFOE LATE ON AND/OR­ CROUCH BRING THE BIG FELLA ON THE CROATS ARE ONLY SMALL­ PLAYERS,GLEN JOHNSON WILL START,

    From psycho p, on Tue 8 Sep 9:59PM

  17. gerrard is usless. phil babb is sexy. please phil come­ back ya big grizzly bear.

    From kevin, on Tue 8 Sep 9:55PM

  18. From the 7 drawn amtch of Croatia, one was­ Hungary!!!
    hajra magyarok!!!

    From Dave, on Tue 8 Sep 9:18PM

  19. 9/4 the draw is the bet england qualifing is not in­ doubt winning or doing well in world cup is tho

    From pdelappe123, on Tue 8 Sep 9:14PM

  20. I agree with most of the contingent here, the media is­ hyping it up as usual. They can't think of anything­ else to write about the games tommorow, so throwing a­ load of "mealy mouthed" stats is the best­ they can come up with.

    On a serious note, England are­ "Better" than Croatia, we have better­ players, a better youth division, a better manager, and­ of course better fans. There;s no reason that England­ can't be Positive of anything else but a victory­ here tommorow night. And plus, i don't like­ bilic's face.

    From Enfferejado, on Tue 8 Sep 9:12PM
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