Before kick-off, players took the knee and there was a mixed reaction from those at Wembley.

Inside the first five minutes, Phil Foden rattled the post with a curling strike.

Man of the match Kalvin Phillips saw his volley saved.

Unlike in 2018, Kieran Trippier could not find the net with his free-kick at the end of the first half.

But then Raheem Sterling fired in the opener in the second half.

Harry Kane should have made it 2-0.

Mason Mount struck a free-kick narrowly over.

But England claimed the three points and began Euro 2020 in impressive fashion.

Watch full highlights below.

Ashley Burton: Can't believe that win over Croatia was England first opening fixture win at a Euros. Also, Sterling never scored at a international tournament. Mind blown

Paul Collins: Not entirely sure our performance can be called brilliant. We edged an even game. Look at the stats. Both teams had 50% possession and also the same numbers for shots, shots on target and corners. But we took one of our chances. We won. All that matters.

Philip Carruthers: Phillips absolutely outstanding.

Alan Shearer
Former England striker on BBC One

It's a brilliant start. The manager and players have worked hard on the training ground. We wanted them to give us something to feel good about and look forward to and they've done that.

England

England midfielder Mason Mount, speaking to BBC Sport: "We were on it from the first whistle. The first 20 minutes, the dominance we had, we could have had a few goals. Our counter-press is something we have looked at and really tried to work on. The first 20 minutes we were brilliant but then the sun kicks-in and we get a bit tired and Croatia have a bit of the ball. We managed the game brilliantly."

England

England defender Kieran Trippier: "No nerves. We're a confident group. We believe in our own ability and as a team. We had to keep in our shape and keep it tight. We tried to counter as quickly as we could. I thought we limited their chances. The most important thing is the three points and a clean sheet. We look forward to the next game.

"You might not get as many chances for your country as you do for club football. I'm absolutely delighted for Raheem [Sterling] and for the team. The way we handled the heat and the occasion... The fans were fantastic as well. It was amazing. We've not had fans because of Covid-19 but for the fans to be here, just warming up and seeing them, it's what we've wanted for a long time. I hope they enjoyed it today because we sure did.

"The first game is very important. It's a big three points. The next game will be even more important. We need to work hard for the next game."

England

England boss Gareth Southgate to BBC Radio 5 Live: "I'm most pleased with the performance. Of course the win is important. To win the first game relieves some tension but it doesn't mean we've qualified and that's the first objective.

"The performance was really good. It was a big occasion, a sweltering hot day and the players settled really quickly, used the ball well and we limited Croatia to very few clear chances throughout the game.

"They are a good opponent who we have huge respect for and we know so much about so I couldn't be happier with not just the players that started but those who came in and the whole group for the way they prepared for this game.

"Firstly, it's a lovely day for the English public. We've waited a long time for the beer gardens to open and I'm sure they're throwing it everywhere as well as drinking it which is lovely!

"But for us, it relieves some tension. You know if you don't win the first game, the pressure ramps up. But we have two really difficult games left in this group and we're a good step forward today but important steps to go to qualify."

On starting Kieran Trippier: "We felt that his talking across the backline and his ability to get out and stop crosses quickly and his experience on a day like today - alongside Tyrone Mings, who is relatively early in his international career - would be a good stabilising element.

"He is a very underrated player. People are still looking at the player from a few years ago and not at the one who is at Atletico Madrid and playing like a warrior in the last few seasons. He is a big part of what we've done over the last few years and he gave a really good performance."

Chris Waddle
Ex-England winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

It's a good win for England that. A lot of people thought it wouldn't be easy. It is a great start.

England

More from England boss Gareth Southgate, speaking to BBC Sport: "This is a tough group and there are different sorts of challenges. Scotland and the Czech Republic are good sides so we are pleased with today, it's a good start, and it takes some of the tension out of the preparation for the next game. But we have still got to get points to qualify."

England

England's Raheem Sterling in his post-match press conference: "It's a great feeling for me playing at Wembley, not far from where I grew up as a young boy and seeing the stadium being built. I thought the team played brilliantly at times. We dug in."

Asked by BBC Sport's Alex Howell whether he felt pressure coming into the match, he said: "I don't know if it's pressure when you're in front of your home crowd. It's an extra boost. You have to be excited to be in front of your home fans. You have people behind you and supporting you. You tried to use it to our advantage.

"I'm focused and I haven't really taken it into account that I'd not scored in a major tournament before. I know the true value of the team and today was a great team effort. It's not conditions we're used to and we dugged deep to get that clean sheet at the end.

"It's early days. It's the first game. It was great to get off with a win but the most important thing is the togetherness of the team. We got a result I think we truly deserved."

On proving his selection: "I think one of the things about playing football and being in major tournaments for a long time now is knowing when to block the noise out. I just tried to focus and come into this tournament with a clear head. I know what I can bring to the team and it's as simple as that."

On Kalvin Phillips: "He was good in there. He brings a lot of energy to the team and is on the front foot. He is always in their faces but he uses the ball well. For our goal you can see the clever play and the great weight of pass. It was a first major tournament and a first major game for us so he did brilliantly today."

England

England boss Gareth Southgate, speaking to BBC One: "It's lovely to have given our fans and our country a really enjoyable afternoon. The players dealt with the big occasion really well. Right from the start, incredible heat, they played well and settled early in the game.

"There were moments where the tempo dropped because of the heat but the majority of the game we were in control and didn't give Croatia many opportunities and we looked dangerous.

"Kalvin Phillips is a player who is so understated. He has had a fantastic start to his international career. I thought he was immense throughout the game - as they all were - and I'm so pleased for Raheem.

"He was dangerous all game His goalscoring record suggests we should have faith in him and I think he was motivated t show that.

"We are going to need all those attacking players through the tournament. We can make changes and we will need to. The key was to get pressure on Croatia's midfield players and we managed to do that. That limited some of the supply and the defenders dealt with the longer balls well and read the game well. It was a day when everybody who got onto the pitch performed well and that was set up by the whole group."

Frank Lampard
Former England midfielder on BBC One

I think it's a great story anyway for a lad that was playing in the Championship not that long ago, now Kalvin Phillips playing at this level here in the England team and speaking so well after the game.

We see him week in, week out playing in a deep area. His game has really improved and he controls the game from the deep area, now Gareth has asked the question of him today - Can you play higher? Can you give us that energy? Can you give us that bit of brain that he brought into the team?

I thought he did it brilliantly well. I'd say the balance of the midfield was spot on today.

Alan Shearer
Former England striker on BBC One

I thought Kalvin Phillips was man of the match for England today. He had a superb game from start to finish. He had an energy, a maturity, he had everything you want from a midfielder. He was up, he was down, the pass for the goal was superb, he was protecting that back four at times. Fantastic.

Image source, EPA

England

Midfielder Kalvin Phillips, speaking to BBC Sport: "It was really warm and it took its toll on us. It's a great result and I'm happy with my performance. There are two group games left and we need to perform like that - if not better.

"As soon as we finished celebrating [with Raheem Sterling] it's the first time I have found him with a pass since I've linked up with England.

"It's a great feeling to get an assist and a great feeling for the three points. I'm laid back - that's the kind of person I am regardless of what is thrown at me. I just try and take it in my stride. If I didn't have the team around me and the coaching staff around me to make me feel like that then I don't think it would be possible.

"There's a lot of talk about me and Declan Rice fighting for one position but when we play together, I think we play really well. It's an honour to play with him."

Kalvin Phillips' smile is beaming from London to Leeds as he comes to face the cameras.

He is buzzing.

John: We’ve just beaten the finalists of the last World Cup and people are looking for negatives???

Frank Lampard
Former England midfielder on BBC One

When you get to this level people talk abut concentration particular if you're a defender. Tyrone Mings spoke about it being his first game at a major tournament and we have a lot of players like that. That's why today was so impressive and that's why it will be so good for their confidence that they got through it so well.