England fans forced to watch Croatia bore draw from hill after being BANNED from stadium - 7M sport

England fans forced to watch Croatia bore draw from hill after being BANNED from stadium



Posted Saturday, October 13, 2018 by Express.co.uk

England fans forced to watch Croatia bore draw from hill after being BANNED from stadium
England fans travelled to Croatia to watch the Three Lions despite being told to stay away (Image: GETTY)

DETERMINED England fans were spotted at the UEFA Nations League showdown with Croatia in Rijeka despite being told to stay away from the ground.

A group of supporters were snapped on a bank behind the stadium - and they might just have had the best view in the house.

The raised area is in the ideal place and provided the perfect vantage point.

Fans were able to get a glimpse of the Three Lions stars as they took on rivals Croatia, but were treated to a dull affair.

The atmosphere before the game was jovial, with a group from Stoke supporters proudly posing with a St George's flag.

Croatia were ordered to play two games behind closed doors because of a swastika that was marked on the pitch before a Euro 2016 qualifier against Italy.

It is understood that fans spray-painted the symbol on the pitch.

While the Croatian Football Federation apologised, FIFA opted to punish them.

However, the punishment was not enforced until almost three years after the initial incident.

Eric Dier admitted the atmosphere was strange. He said: "It was strange, the first experience of it for all of us.

"A couple of fans got up on the hill but once the game started it was in the back of our minds.

"We could easily hear the ones on the hill, they were the only ones here.

England fans forced to watch Croatia bore draw from hill after being BANNED from stadium
Supporters perched on a vantage point in the dark but got a good view of the action (Image: REUTERS)

Dier and Harry Kane both hit the woodwork for Southgate's side.

And Marcus Rashford should have done better when he was one-on-one, but the Manchester United youngster fluffed his lines as his left-footed effort trickled into the hands of Dominik Livakovic from close range.

On the plus side, Borussia Dortmund wonderkid Jadon Sancho came on to make his senior Three Lions debut.

He almost marked a promising first outing with an assist - beating two men down the right wing before delivering a dangerous cross that was eventually cleared.

England fans forced to watch Croatia bore draw from hill after being BANNED from stadium
A fan catches the action through a fence (Image: GETTY)

Ben Chilwell also made his international bow.

On the lack of fans, the Leicester full-back added: "It was strange, when you step out and sing the national anthem in an empty stadium.

"We were all aware it would be a weird environment. You have to sign the anthem, no matter how bad you are."

Next up for England is Monday night's Nations League encounter with Spain in Seville.



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