LISBON, 18 June 2004 — Teenage striker Wayne Rooney scored twice yesterday to fire England to a 3-0 win over 10-man Switzerland and restore their hopes of reaching the quarterfinals of Euro 2004.
Rooney, 18, put England ahead midway through the first half in Coimbra to become the youngest goalscorer at a European Championship. He added a deflected second 15 minutes from time before midfielder Steven Gerrard completed the scoring.
Off the field, 34 suspected soccer hooligans, arrested after clashes with police in the southern Algarve resort of Albufeira this week, agreed to be deported from Portugal. The group was made up of 33 Britons and a Dutchman.
Italian Francesco Totti, one of the biggest names at the tournament, was also in deep trouble. Totti has been banned for three matches by UEFA for spitting at Danish midfielder Christian Poulsen in Italy’s opening game.
England will be delighted to have put behind them the trauma of their stoppage time defeat to holders France.
Rooney headed the first goal after good work by fellow striker Michael Owen. His second had a slice of luck about it, his thumping shot bouncing off the post and hitting Swiss goalkeeper Joerg Stiel on the head before ending up in the net.
The Swiss wilted in the heat after defender Bernt Haas was sent off on the hour mark and now face likely elimination.
Gerrard, whose suicidal back pass led to the French penalty which sunk England last Sunday, stroked home the third eight minutes from time after a neat buildup. The Swiss have just one point from two games. They have had a man sent off in each game and have yet to score a goal.
Croatia Hold France to Surprise 2-2 Draw
In Leiria, Croatia held champions France to a 2-2 draw in an explosive match yesterday, the latest tournament surprise that leaves Group B wide open.
An own goal by Igor Tudor midway through the first half seemed to have France on course for the quarterfinals but two goals in four minutes early in the second, a Milan Rapaic penalty and a shot by Dado Prso, suddenly turned things round. David Trezeguet rescued the holders in the 64th minute to set up a tense final round of fixtures on June 21.
France started confidently, knocking the ball about crisply, but never really threatened in the opening 20 minutes. The breakthrough came out of the blue when Zinedine Zidane curled a free kick from wide on the left that took a slight deflection off defender Tudor and left goalkeeper Tomislav Butina wrong-footed.
The game then went into a lull with neither side showing any particular urgency until an outrageous backheeled flick by Zidane from a corner set up William Gallas for a header, which the defender wide of the post. Croatia coach Otto Baric said in the build up to the game that he would be delighted with a draw and his side were on level terms three minutes into the second half after Mikael Silvestre bundled over Dovani Rossi in the box.
French goalkeeper Fabien Barthez had saved David Beckham’s penalty for England on Sunday but had no chance with Rapaic’s blasted effort.
Prso, who earned his living in the French League for AS Monaco last season, thought he had lost possession after hooking the ball over the head of Silvestre but a miscued clearance by recalled captain Marcel Desailly returned it to him and he took full advantage by lashing the ball past Barthez.
France were stunned but quickly collected themselves and drew level with a hotly-disputed goal in the 64th minute.
Trezeguet charged down a Butina clearance, the ball hitting his arm, before slotting into the empty net from a tight angle.
