Summary

  • England beat Croatia to qualify for next summer's Nations League finals

  • Lingard and Kane score in final 12 minutes to complete comeback

  • England were five minutes from relegation to second tier

  • Croatia relegated to second tier, Spain finish second

  1. Postpublished at 16:31 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2018

    Well, well, well.

    England finish the year with a win and book their place in next summer's finals in Portugal. Ryanair and Easyjet may be busy tonight...

    You can follow Northern Ireland's match with Austria and read the full match report on this England game on our website.

    There will also be live text commentary of Switzerland v Belgium and Spain v Bosnia starting at around 19:15 GMT.

    Germany, Republic of Ireland and the Netherlands are all in action tomorrow night.

    Thanks for joining me!

  2. 'We have come a long way'published at 16:28 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2018

    FT: England 2-1 Croatia

    England midfielder Fabian Delph: "It was an absolutely amazing day. We’ve come a long way in 12 months. We came up short in the World Cup but we wanted to put it right and we’ve done that today. They’re a good team.

    "The performance was really good. We should have put it to bed in the first half. We’re a young team but we have old heads on our shoulders. The chances came and we managed to take them.

    "It showed a lot of character and there’s a lot of character in the dressing room. The togetherness has been there for 18 months now. We didn’t panic and we’ve got more than enough to win games.

    "We’ve come a long way and we’re really looking forward to that semi-final. In the dressing room the energy was electric. We’re glad we can do ourselves proud and to bring the nation together."

  3. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 16:28 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2018

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    Nathanael Leon: Mad idea but haven’t UEFA made a better competition than the Euros? It’s a Euros of better teams.

  4. The best of the statspublished at 16:26 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2018

    FT: England 2-1 Croatia

    This was Croatia’s first defeat against England since September 2009, when they lost 5-1 in a World Cup qualifier at Wembley.

    Harry Kane ended a run of 747 minutes without an England goal, scoring his first goal since his penalty against Colombia at the World Cup; this was his 20th England goal.

    Jesse Lingard’s goal for England was their first goal via a throw-in since May 2014 (Daniel Sturridge v Peru).

  5. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 16:24 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2018

    #bbcfootball or text 81111 (UK only)

    Ralph Goga: Wait until the end of the game #ENGCRO before you criticise Harry Kane for being anonymous.

    Alex: I watched that game and thought Kane was rubbish and yet here he is with a goal, an assist and a MOTM bottle. Never underestimate this team.

    Fizan Khan: We gonna win. It's coming home lads.

  6. Postpublished at 16:21 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2018

    More from Gareth Southgate to Sky: "I felt we were more in control in the first half than we were in the [World Cup] semi-final. We were much more controlled in possession.

    "It felt as if we could open them up and make good chances. The players are starting to believe in the system. We have some players so comfortable building from the back. The depth in the squad since the summer has grown with the young players. Whoever comes in during this competition have all delivered.

    "We felt the balance in the midfield was important. We knew if we had to accelerate, we had game-changers on the bench. In the last five minutes we were mature enough to see things through."

  7. 'We saw this as an opportunity'published at 16:18 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2018

    England 2-1 Croatia

    More from Southgate on Sky: "We didn’t discuss relegation [beforehand] – we just saw this as a opportunity. We saw it as a quarter-final.

    "It’s great as we had to live with the pressure. If we can get an atmosphere like that we’ll be very strong.

    "We’ve come out of an incredibly tough group, in terms of form and world rankings the toughest.

    "We haven’t sat back after the summer and preened ourselves. We’ve progressed. People can see the style and start to believe in what we’re doing. The biggest thing is the connection with the fans - I haven't seen the new Wembley like that. The way it feels with the fans is special. It’s giving us the energy to try to go on and break new barriers all the time.”

  8. 'I'm very proud'published at 16:17 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2018

    FT: England 2-1 Croatia

    England boss Gareth Southgate to Sky Sports: "I'm very proud first and foremost. I thought we dictated a lot of the game and had good chances in the first half.

    "Then we let quite a soft goal in and it’s a real test of resilience and patience. We rode our luck with their counter-attacks with one cleared off the line.

    "For all the great play, we scored from a long throw-in and set-piece. Maybe we're not a new England and we're the England we’ve always been.

    "I’m proud of how we’ve done all year. I’ve not heard Wembley like that for a long time."

    .Image source, Getty Images
  9. Postpublished at 16:14 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2018

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  10. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 16:12 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2018

    #bbcfootball or text 81111 (UK only)

    Ben Lynch: I love this England team. It’s so obvious it all comes from Southgate and the players buying into what he says. They handle being in an England shirt with class because he does. Knighthood!

    Tim Haveron Jones: What’s the betting that the phrase “Nations League finals dates” is currently trending on Google?

  11. Postpublished at 16:11 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2018

    Gareth is giving his post-match interview. I'll drop in his thoughts very shortly.

  12. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 16:09 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2018

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    Ben Fides: Significant half of football, that. Big test, a goal down with 15 to play. Still a work in progress, but this England team keeps on overcoming the odds. Exciting times.

    Jonathan Hart: That long sought-after Nations League trophy. In 7 minutes the Nations League just went from the worst to the best idea in football.

  13. Postpublished at 16:07 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2018

    FT: England 2-1 Croatia

    Look at these reactions. The Nations League certainly means something to England!

    .Image source, Getty Images
    .Image source, Getty Images
    .Image source, Getty Images
  14. 'We kept the spirit of the World Cup'published at 16:04 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2018

    FT: England 2-1 Croatia

    England forward Jesse Lingard to Sky Sports: "We kept the confidence, spirit and togetherness from the World Cup.

    "It’s brilliant. Well done to the lads and staff who stuck together through the highs and lows."

    What did Gareth Southgate say when he sent you on?

    "To win the game. Fresh legs, get on the ball and get it moving."

  15. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 16:02 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2018

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    Keith Thomas: England were just superb, resilient and able to come back and capitalise on their growing self belief.

    Novis: England giving me goose bumps in November was unexpected!

  16. 'It's incredible'published at 16:00 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2018

    FT: England 2-1 Croatia

    England striker Harry Kane told Sky Sports: "It felt good. The lads stuck at it, we showed our character, stayed calm and deserved to win.

    "We were disappointed not to take our chances but against big sides you have to stay calm. We said after the World Cup we want to keep progressing and get better - and the way to do that is by beating top teams. We finished the year strong. We’ll enjoy this one.

    "It’s incredible, I've never seen Wembley like this in an England shirt. We want to make everyone proud. I know they’ll enjoy this one."

    KaneImage source, Reuters
  17. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 15:59 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2018

    #bbcfootball or text 81111 (UK only)

    Shambhav Joshi: IT'S COMING HOME!!!

    Khael Malik: That was fun!

    The Supreme Meme: That should do for a few good nights next summer.

  18. 'Getting the media onside has been Southgate's focus'published at 15:56 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2018

    England 2-1 Croatia

    Matthew Upson
    Former England defender on BBC Radio 5 live

    This means so much to everyone. For the media to understand and get behind the team - that has been a big focus for Gareth Southgate.

    It's experiences and comebacks allow that to grow.

  19. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 15:55 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2018

    #bbcfootball or text 81111 (UK only)

    Rob Meech: Top performance, a great comeback and a fabulous victory that was fully deserved. The Southgate revolution continues apace. England are on the up!

    Johnny Magrinho: WHAT. A. WIN. Wow!

    Jack Tanner: The nations league is brilliant. Try saying it isn't an improvement in friendlies or qualifiers after that last 15 minutes.

    SouthgateImage source, Reuters
  20. Postpublished at 15:54 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2018

    FT: England 2-1 Croatia

    "Football's coming home" rings around Wembley. The crowd are loving it! Gareth Southgate runs onto the pitch and gives Raheem Sterling a big hug.

    He then finds Harry Kane and is grinning from ear-to-ear. Good job skip.