Croatia vs England

Theo Walcott hit a stunning hat-trick as England thrashed Croatia in a World Cup qualifying tie in Zagreb. The 19-year-old got the nod to start ahead of David Beckham and he drilled England ahead, before Robert Kovac was sent off for an elbow on Joe Cole. Eight minutes after the break Croatia suffered a hammer blow when Robert Kovac went up for a challenge with Joe Cole and appeared to lead with his elbow, causing the Chelsea midfielder to bleed from a wound on his head. Kovac was rightly sent off and Cole had to be stretchered off, but six minutes later England went 2-0 ahead when the sublime Rooney - enjoying a glorious return to form wearing the three lions - beautifully teed up Walcott to smash in his second.

England failed to qualify for Euro 2008 after losing a sensational game against Croatia at Wembley. England went 2-0 down when Scott Carson, in for Paul Robinson, helped Nico Kranjcar's shot into the net and then Ivica Olic slipped in a second. Frank Lampard pulled one back from the spot after Jermain Defoe was fouled, before David Beckham, winning a 99th cap, set up Peter Crouch to level download it. But Mladen Petric fired in from 25 yards to break England's hearts. England: Carson, Richards, Campbell, Lescott Torrent , Bridge Free , Wright-Phillips (Beckham 46), Gerrard, Barry (Defoe 46), Lampard, Joe Rapidshare Cole (Bent 80), Crouch. Subs Not Used: James, Ashley Cole, Brown, Hargreaves. Goals: Lampard 56 pen, Crouch 65. Croatia: Pletikosa, Corluka, Simic, Robert Kovac, Simunic, Srna, Modric, Niko Kovac, Kranjcar (Pranjic 75), Olic (Rakitic 84), Eduardo (Petric 69). Subs Not Used: Runje, Babic, Knezevic, Lek Booked: Robert Kovac, Eduardo. Goals: Kranjcar 8, Olic 14, Petric 77. Att: 88,091. Ref: Peter Frojdfeldt (Sweden).