England beat Czech Republic to top Euro 2020 Group D - but Scotland out after Croatia defeat

Raheem Sterling's early header at Wembley was enough for the Three Lions to go through to the last 16 as group winners.

Scotland's hopes of progress, though, were ended by a 3-1 defeat to Croatia at Hampden Park.

England's triumph means they will play their second round game at Wembley next Tuesday against the side that finishes second in Group F - which contains Germany, France, Portugal and Hungary.

Sterling celebrates after scoring with a 12th-minute header (photo: PA)

Sterling grabbed his second goal of the tournament when he nodded home Jack Grealish's pinpoint cross in the 12th minute.

It capped a bright start from Gareth Southgate's side, who almost went ahead inside two minutes when Sterling lobbed against the post.

The opener came after good work from Bukayo Saka after the Arsenal attacker had been called up along with Grealish, Harry Maguire and Kyle Walker.

Harry Kane, who fed Grealish to cross, could have opened his Euro 2020 account on 26 minutes but was denied by a good stop from Czech keeper Tomas Vaclik.

Former Carlisle United loanee Jordan Pickford, left, with Harry Maguire before the game (photo: PA)

Saka produced a bright performance but England needed ex-Carlisle United keeper Jordan Pickford to make a good save from Tomas Holes.

Tomas Soucek then shot narrowly wide before Kane was again denied later in the half.

Southgate brought on Jordan Henderson at the break, replacing Declan Rice, and a second half of little dramatic incident followed as England protected Pickford's goal for a third successive clean sheet.

Southgate later brought on Jude Bellingham, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho before Liverpool skipper Henderson had a late deflected goal chalked off for offside.

England's squad was without Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell, who are isolating for 10 days after coming into contact with Scotland's Billy Gilmour, who has tested positive for Covid-19.

Without the Chelsea midfielder, the Scots came up short against Croatia to bow out of their first major international tournament since 1998 at the first hurdle.

Callum McGregor's 42nd-minute strike, which cancelled out Nikola Vlasic's opener, had given Steve Clarke's side hope.

Scotland's players look dejected as Croatia celebrate Luka Modric's goal at Hampden (photo: PA)

But a sublime Luka Modric goal, followed by Ivan Perisic's header, sent Scotland out as the group's bottom side with one point from their three games.

Croatia finished second in the group and join England in the last 16, with the Czech Republic also through as one of the best third-place group finishers.