Teenager Theo Walcott scored a hat-trick as an inspired England crushed 10-man Croatia 4-1 in their World Cup Group Six qualifier in Zagreb on Wednesday. It was the first defeat in 36 qualifiers on home soil for the Croats since they resumed playing competitive football as an independent nation in 1994.
English champions Manchester United will start the new season without Dutch goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, who faces an eight-week layoff with a broken finger.
Croatia pulled off a memorable 2-1 win over Group B favourites Germany on Thursday to move to the brink of a place in the Euro 2008 quarter-finals.
Wales continued their unbeaten start to the Euro 2016 campaign as a nervy 2-1 triumph over Cyprus, after they had been reduced to 10 men, bolstered the nation's dream of qualifying for a major championship finals for only the second time.
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