The Three Lions marked another great night in 2018 to show the world that they are no longer the laughing stock on the international stage
England came out on top of a tense game with a brilliant comeback against Croatia on Sunday and now they will aim to hit Gareth Southgate’s target of taking that final step to greatness.
Harry Kane wasn’t at his best at Wembley but his efforts and single-mindedness were rewarded as he netted the winning goal late on from Ben Chilwell’s left-footed freekick.
It was his first goal for England in seven games and his 20th wearing the national team shirt, matching the tally scored by Jermain Defoe in much less time.
The Tottenham star showed a mentality that has been lacking from successive Three Lions teams for decades and his display embodied the determination of Southgate’s pursuit of glory.
The England boss is boosted by a talented new generation but apparent mental hurdles have held the team back from achieving anything close to their World Cup triumph of 1966.
That could be about to change.
It was a night where Chilwell stepped up and added £10 million on his Leicester City valuation, while Croatia will have looked on in admiration as Dele Alli, Jadon Sancho and goal-scorer Jesse Lingard entered the fray from the bench.
The Manchester City cohort were every-bit as good as they have been for the Premier League champions, with Raheem Sterling perhaps only disappointing in his ruthlessness in front of goal.
England’s youngest team for 60 years had already won in Spain, while the World Cup saw them banish the penalty shoot-out curse en route to the semi-finals. However, the last international match of 2018 came against a team so used to heaping pain on England.
Croatia won 3-2 at Wembley to ensure the Three Lions missed Euro 2008 and they were the team who knocked Southgate’s men out in Russia, as Mario Mandzukic’s extra time goal sent them to the final against France.
Another ingredient to success is the togetherness of the group, who seriously felt the absence of Danny Welbeck, who suffered a broken ankle. The team put his photo up next to the television at St George’s Park to keep the Arsenal man in their thoughts and it is a cohesion perhaps not felt by the ‘golden generations’ of the past.
Wayne Rooney was honoured in the 3-0 friendly win prior to this game, as he earned his final and 120th cap against USA. He was impressed with what he saw and he says that this group could be the real ‘golden generation.’
“They called the team I played in the ‘golden generation’ but this team has also got superstars like Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling and John Stones,” Rooney said. “This is a great young squad with other players who can come in if there are injuries.
“To win any trophy would be great for England – and hopefully this team can be the ones to bring that home.”
Indeed, “It’s Coming Home” rang out around Wembley afterwards as Southgate tries to keep the feel-good factor flowing.
From negativity, dread and indifference, to love, hope and joy, 2018 has been the most memorable year for a generation of England fans and they are right to belt out their anthem after decades of misery.
The Uefa Nations League may not be a major trophy but perhaps qualification for the semi-final and a subsequent win in 2019 could lead to better things for England with Euro 2020 as the real prize.
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