Jadon Sancho England 2018

Sancho makes modern England history with first cap

Jadon Sancho continues to impress and the 18-year-old made a bit of history for England on Friday. 

The Borussia Dortmund youngster made his full debut for England in a 0-0 Nations League draw with Croatia, coming on in the 78th minute in front of an empty Stadion HNK Rijeka. 

At just 18 years and 201 days old, Sancho became the youngest player to make his debut in a competitive match for England in over 60 years, and the second youngest ever. 

Article continues below

Duncan Edwards is the only England player to make his debut in a competitive match at a younger age, playing against Scotland in 1955 at 18 years and 183 days old in what was known as the British Home Championship, an annual competition between the United Kingdom's four national sides that was abolished in 1984. 

Sancho also became the first outfield player to play for England while plying his trade outside of the UK since 2009, when the LA Galaxy's David Beckham played against Belarus. 

Despite his youth and not featuring in the Premier League, England boss Gareth Southgate had no issue turning to the youngster in such a tight match. 

"I had no hesitation in throwing Jadon Sancho on late on," he said following the draw.

"We know he can have an impact on the game, and he did that when we eventually got the ball to him.

"So there were lots of encouraging things. We’re disappointed not to have won but I have to focus on the way we played. And tonight we played well.”

Sancho's appearance was a bright spot on a night when England failed to really kick things into high gear.

The Three Lions notched just five shots against Croatia, their fewest total since a 2013 clash against Brazil. 

The good news for Southgate's side is that Croatia never found a way through either, with the teams drawing for just the second time in their history. 

The last time the two teams finished level was their first clash against each other in 1996. 

England also kept a clean sheet away from home for the fourth match on the trot, their longest such run since 1997. 

Advertisement