England 2-3 Croatia
A late long-range goal from substitute Mladen Petrić sent Croatia to UEFA EURO 2008™ as Group E winners and ended the hopes of England, who had battled back from two goals down in a gripping encounter.
Rousing contest
Needing only a draw to progress, England made the worst possible start as Niko Kranjčar and Ivica Olić found the net in the first quarter-hour to put Croatia in command. The home side rallied in the second period, however, Frank Lampard halving the deficit from the penalty spot in the 56th minute before Peter Crouch volleyed the equaliser nine minutes later but just as it looked as if England would earn the point they needed, Petrić drilled in with 13 minutes left to finally kill off their challenge.
Croatia in control
Scott Carson replaced Paul Robinson in goal for England but that decision backfired within eight minutes as Kranjčar cut inside from the left and unleashed a dipping shot that squirmed through the goalkeeper and into the net. Although Shaun Wright-Phillips drew a save from Stipe Pletikosa almost immediately, the visitors doubled their advantage with a clinical counterattack in the 14th minute, Eduardo da Silva slipping Olić through to round Carson and roll in.
England rally
England manager Steve McClaren brought on a second forward in Jermain Defoe and David Beckham – for his 99th cap – at half-time and, although Eduardo was denied by Carson's legs, the changes revived England. Lampard sent Pletikosa the wrong way from the spot eleven minutes after the restart following Josip Šimunić's tug on Defoe, although Carson then had to make two fine saves from Olić. Those looked crucial as the home side equalised five minutes past the hour, Crouch collecting Beckham's right-wing cross on his chest and volleying into the corner of the net.
Petrić stunner
Croatia, however, refused to settle for a point and continued to press forward looking for a third goal, getting their reward in the 77th minute as two substitutes combined to devastating effect. Danijel Pranjić slipped a pass inside for Petrić to drill a 25-metre shot across Carson and restore Croatia's lead and, despite pressing forward in the final ten minutes, England's efforts were all in vain.
Andorra 0-1 Russia
Russia took advantage of England's defeat against Croatia by beating Andorra to secure an unexpected place at UEFA EURO 2008™ as runners-up in Group E.
Sychev winner
Russia’s chances looked to have gone when they lost in Israel on Saturday, but Croatia’s victory at Wembley opened the door and Guus Hiddink's side forced their way through it by the narrowest of margins. Dmitri Sychev scored the all important goal just before the break to earn victory for a Russian side that also missed a penalty and finished the game with ten men following Andrei Arshavin’s late dismissal.
Wembley cheer
Russia began slowly and the opening minutes were evenly balanced. News then quickly spread around the ground that Croatia had gone ahead at Wembley. There was an even bigger cheer soon afterwards as the Russian fans realised England were two down. The Russia supporters urged on their side but Andorra goalkeeper Koldo Álvarez kept the visitors at bay, saving well from Aleksandr Kerzhakov and Denis Kolodin.
Sychev decider
Russia got the breakthrough five minutes before half-time. The inspiration came from the bench as substitute Dmitri Torbinskiy set up a goal with his first touch. The FK Spartak Moskva winger found space on the right and crossed for Sychev who headed over the advancing Álvarez and into the empty net.
Penalty save
Russia spurned a great chance to go two ahead just before the interval after Álvarez brought down Kerzakhov in the area. The Andorra keeper injured himself in the process but got up to make an excellent save from Kolodin's spotkick. Álvarez could not continue after the break but his replacement José Antonio Gómes was kept busy by the Russian attack, saving twice from Torbinskiy before Kerzakhov had a shot blocked. The visitors lost some of their momentum when news came through that England had levelled at 2-2 with Croatia, but cheers soon broke out again when Russia's fans learned of Croatia's third goal. Arshavin was sent off late on for violent conduct but Russia would soon be celebrating.
Israel 1-0 F.Y.R. Macedonia
Israel ended their UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifying campaign on a high as Elyaniv Barda's first-half header earned victory against F.Y.R. Macedonia.
Even contest
The visitors, weekend conquerors of Group E leaders Croatia 2-0, were worthy opponents for an Israel side buoyed by their dramatic win over Russia, but despite long periods of pressure, they could not find a response to Barda's 35th-minute goal.
Impasse
The game's first chance had come when Israel's Maor Bar Buzaglo tested goalkeeper Petar Milosevski from 20 metres, while Velice Sumulikoski tried his luck from distance at the other end. F.Y.R. Macedonia were holding their own and almost broke the deadlock when Aco Stojkov wriggled past Tal Ben Haim only to drag his shot wide of the upright.
Powerful header
The goal arrived ten minutes from half-time. Full-back Yuval Shpungin took a throw-in on the right, burst to the byline after receiving a clever backheel from Barak Itzhaki, and chipped over a cross which Barda – a goalscorer against Russia – powered past Milosevski. Darko Tasevski immediately threatened an equaliser and Srečko Katanec's side continued to press at the start of the second half when Vlatko Grozdanovski shot wide.
Late chance
Israel's counterattacking almost paid dividends with 20 minutes to go, substitute Ben Sahar seeing his strike smothered by Milosevski. Sumulikoski and Barda traded efforts, Sahar had another attempt kept out by Milosevski, before the visitors were denied a late equaliser when Slavco Georgievski's header was directed over his own crossbar by defender Dekel Keinan. The win took Dror Kashtan's Israel on to 23 points from their 12 matches, nine above their opponents.
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