ANOTHER game, another Arsenal player dismissed. Jermaine Pennant followed Francis Jeffers and Sol Campbell in becoming the third Highbury player sent off with August far from over, but his exit, at 2-0 down after an hour, only confirmed what had seemed an inevitable defeat for England Under-21. On this evidence, Croatia’s decline since finishing third in the 1998 World Cup will be reversed in the coming years.

Pennant, who is expected to begin a two-month loan with Leeds United soon, appeared to punch Niko Kranjcar, who had rounded on him because England had continued attacking while Dino Drpic lay injured. “He deserved to be sent off and he’s held his hands up,” David Platt, the England Under-21 manager, said.

None of England’s starting line-up in the only previous under-21 meeting between these countries, seven years ago, graduated to the senior team. In contrast, four of last night’s initial XI — Paul Konchesky, Gareth Barry, Jermaine Jenas and Jeffers — have already won full caps but Jenas was the only player in white to impress at Upton Park.

The Newcastle United midfield player set up one of two clear chances for Jeffers but the Arsenal striker failed to score what would have been a record fourteenth goal for the under-21s. Jermain Defoe, the only non-Premiership starter for England, dragged a shot badly wide on his home ground and Pennant hit a post, but otherwise Croatia dominated.

Goran Ljubojevic collected a long pass to ride home the eleventh-minute opener and also stabbed in a loose ball after a corner in the 55th minute. Kranjcar hit the crossbar from a free kick before a stoppage-time chip by Daniel Pranjic left Platt dejected. “Thank God it was only a friendly,” he said.

ENGLAND UNDER-21 (4-4-2): M Murray (Wolverhampton Wanderers) — G Johnson (Chelsea), S Parnaby (Middlesbrough), P Clarke (Everton; sub: P Jagielka, Sheffield United, 73min), P Konchesky (Charlton Athletic) — J Pennant (Arsenal), J Jenas (Newcastle United), D Prutton (Southampton), G Barry (Aston Villa; sub: S Sidwell, Reading, 46) — F Jeffers (Arsenal; sub: C Cole, Chelsea, 70), J Defoe (West Ham United). Substitutes not used: A Hibbert (Everton), R Evans (Swindon Town), G O’Neil (Portsmouth), M Tonge (Sheffield United), D Ambrose (Newcastle United), D Ashton (Crewe Alexandra), D Bent (Ipswich Town), L Grant (Derby County). Sent off: Pennant.

CROATIA UNDER-21 (3-5-2): T Vranjic — V Jese, M Lucic, D Drpic — M Buljat, A Tomic, N Kranjcar, M Carevic, D Pranjic — G Ljubojevic, S Klic (sub: D Zahora, 50). Substitutes not used: M Sarlija, M Bozic, T Mikulic, F Dudicin, I Cosic, K Brkic, I Zgela. Booked: Buljat.

Referee: T Skjerven (Norway).

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