Nathaniel Chalobah was an unused substitute as a former Watford youngster continued his meteoric rise in England's 0-0 draw in their behind closed doors Nations League clash in Croatia tonight.

Hornets midfielder Chalobah had to settle for a watching brief from the bench in Rijeka but Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho, who left Vicarage Road for Manchester City in 2014, became the second youngest England player to win his first cap in a competitive game behind the legendary Duncan Edwards when he replaced Raheem Sterling in the 78th minute.

Just 93 days after the Three Lions lost to Zlatko Dalic's men in the World Cup semi-finals, the countries met in surroundings that could scarcely have been more different to July's huge encounter at the packed Luzhniki.

The virtually-empty Stadion HNK Rijeka hosted England's first-ever match behind closed doors as Croatia completed a ground ban imposed by UEFA for having a swastika on the pitch during a Euro 2016 qualifier against Italy.

Eric Dier and Harry Kane hit the woodwork on a night when Marcus Rashford wasted two great chances, meaning the opportunity to exact World Cup revenge went begging as the Group A4 encounter ended goalless on a strange night for all involved.

There were regular, distant cries from a small group of hardy England fans that had found a vantage point high above one of the stands, but those efforts were rewarded with a poor first half in which Dier hit the post late on.

England improved after the break as Kane hit the woodwork before Rashford missed two fine chances, while Ante Rebic curled just wide for a Croatia side that had lost their Nations League opener 6-0 in Spain.

Gareth Southgate's men face their own Spanish test on Monday without the suspended Jordan Henderson and John Stones, but there are certainly promising moments to build on.

There was also a glimpse of the future as 18-year-old substitute Sancho became the first player born this millennium to play for the senior side, while 21-year-old Ben Chilwell impressed.

The Leicester left-back provided a fine cross 12 minutes into his first England start and Sterling would have tucked it away was it not for Josip Pivaric's intervention.

There was precious little else of note in a largely drab half in Rijeka, where Croatia found the best way to stop England's rapid attackers was scything them down. That approach earned Mateo Kovacic and Dejan Lovren bookings.

Henderson's own yellow card in the sixth minute rules him out of Monday's trip to Seville, where England will face another top-level midfield.

Southgate will be buoyed heading there by the fact that Croatia did not get as much joy in that department as they did in Moscow.

Ivan Perisic's blocked effort was the best they managed in the first half until overlapping Pivaric fired over a cross to Andrej Kramaric, with the former Leicester striker's mishit attempt stopped by Jordan Pickford.

Southgate's men failed to force a save in the first period but came close to the opener just before half-time as Dier met Henderson's corner with a glancing header that hit the far post.

Rashford tried his luck from distance and Perisic stung the palms of Pickford when play resumed, before England struck the woodwork again.

Henderson swung in a free-kick from the right and Kane got away a header that beat goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic, only to come back off the crossbar.

Penalty claims were rejected as Ross Barkley, making his first England appearance in 868 days, went down in the box - and Stones' frustration at that decision resulted in a foul that brought a booking and suspension.

Southgate's side were now in the ascendancy and Rashford should have put them ahead. Two minutes after failing to greet a fine Kyle Walker cross with the finish it deserved from close range, he was put through by Sterling but somehow failed to beat Livakovic.

Tin Jedvaj was perhaps fortunate to only see yellow for a late challenge on Dier, but Croatia had now settled and Kramaric had a chance before Rebic curled just wide from 20 yards.

Kane saw an effort ruled out for offside and seemingly broke the net in the process, leading to a pause in play that saw England fans get a wave from Pickford.

History boy Sancho showed flashes of excitement after his 78th-minute introduction, with his threatening late cross causing problems in a match that ended goalless.