England up and running with 1-0 win over toothless Croatia

LONDON - Raheem Sterling finally found his tournament touch when his 61st-minute goal gave England a deserved 1-0 win over Croatia at Wembley on Sunday as they began a European Championship with a victory for the first time in nine attempts.

Sterling, something of a surprise starter after a flat end to the domestic season but a favourite of manager Gareth Southgate, slid home after great work by Kalvin Phillips to end an individual drought that had run through England’s three previous major tournaments. "It feels good. I grew up two minutes down the road, so I knew I had to score here, and it was a great feeling to do it," said the Wembley-raised forward.