England produced a clinical performance on Saturday, dismantling Croatia 7-0 in a Nations League fixture held at the Stadion HNK Rijeka. The match, which took place in a quiet, subdued environment due to a crowd ban stemming from previous supporter unrest in 2025, saw Thomas Tuchel’s side dominate throughout to secure their second victory in three group games. Which was played “behind closed doors “because of crowd trouble involving Croatia fans against France in 2025, that should be a slightly more raucous occasion than this tie.
Captain Harry Kane led the charge, extending his record-breaking international goal tally to 89 with a brace. He opened the scoring in the eighth minute after receiving a measured pass from Jude Bellingham, following an initial setup by debutant Alex Scott. Kane later added his second in the 53rd minute by converting a cross from Anderson.
Jude Bellingham was instrumental in the victory, contributing three assists and netting a goal of his own in the 21st minute. His effort capped off an impressive 27-pass sequence. Bukayo Saka also recorded a brace, scoring just before halftime following a piece of individual brilliance from Bellingham and adding a sixth goal in the 68th minute after capitalizing on a defensive error. Restored to the starting lineup after Tuesday’s 2-0 win against Czech Republic, was on target to cap a vibrant display featuring three assists, real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham.
Anthony Gordon continued his prolific form by heading in a precise cross from Jarell Quansah in the 39th minute. The assist served as a tactical vindication for Quansah, who had faced scrutiny over his selection in the starting lineup. Morgan Rogers came off the bench to complete the rout, finding the net in the 87th minute after being set up by Bellingham. The effervescent Anthony Gordon netted to make it four goals in his last four England matches before Morgan Rogers completed the annihilation.
The atmosphere inside the Rijeka stadium remained restrained, with only about 6,000 local schoolchildren and 100 visiting England fans in attendance. This contrasted sharply with the typical intensity associated with Croatian home fixtures. The performance followed a week of preparation where Tuchel had specifically cautioned his squad against entering a relaxed “holiday mode” after the players were spotted swimming in the nearby Adriatic Sea. But the Bayern Munich striker was far from the only standout performer for England. Approximately 6,000 local schoolchildren and 100 England supporters were allowed into the Stadion HNK Rijeka, creating a subdued environment in a country known for its hostile atmospheres. It was child’s play for England as they demolished ageing Croatia to disappoint the youthful crowd, but with the Adriatic shimmering in the sun just yards from the stadium.
Tactically, England displayed superior pace and poise compared to their previous 4-2 win against Croatia in June. By maintaining total control of the midfield, the visitors rendered the Croatian defense ineffective throughout the 90 minutes. Dominik Livakovic, the Croatian goalkeeper, was frequently exposed by England’s quick ball movement and clinical finishing. Tuchel’s men took just eight minutes to go ahead with an incisive raid that exposed the talent gap between the sides.
Looking ahead, England aim to secure a top-two finish in their group to guarantee a place in the Nations League quarterfinals scheduled for March. Their next challenge sees them face the Czech Republic at Wembley Stadium on Tuesday. This encounter is expected to attract a significantly larger and more energetic crowd compared to the behind-closed-doors match in Rijeka.
