UEFA Nations League, League A 3CroatiaCRO 0 7 Full Time EnglandENG Venue Stadion Rujevica Referee Sven Jablonski Harry Kane 8Jude Bellingham 21Anthony Gordon 39Bukayo Saka 45Harry Kane 53Bukayo Saka 68Morgan Rogers 87England inflicted on Croatia their heaviest ever defeat as Thomas Tuchels side hit their old rivals for seven in Rijeka. The Three Lions have something of a chequered history against their hosts, but there was a gulf in class here as Tuchels men produced a ruthless performance in their third UEFA Nations League match. Both Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka netted braces, while Jude Bellingham, Anthony Gordon and Morgan Rogers also helped themselves to goals. On an evening on which everything seemed to go right for England, Tuchels side set out their stall early, racing into a two-goal lead before adding a further five goals without reply to give an already impressive scoreline additional sheen. The result leaves the Three Lions second in the group, level on points with Spain but having played one game more. Croatia England 0 Goals 7 36% Possession 64% 12 Total Shots 19 1 Shots on Target 10 6 Shots off Target 6 1 Corners 6 10 Fouls 6 0 Offsides 2 1 Yellow Cards 0 3 Saves 1 422 Passes 745 362 Passes Completed 682 86% Pass Accuracy 92% Home Away England dominant from the startThe first sight of goal fell Englands way, with Gordon testing Dominik Livakovic in the Croatia goal from a tight angle.Just minutes later, a wayward pass from Josko Gvardiol saw England eventually work the ball to Bellingham who expertly found Kane in the box. The England captain took on touch before arrowing a strike high into the net to give the Three Lions an early lead. Gordon raced clear soon after but Livakovic was again equal to the Barcelona mans effort, with Tuchels men firmly on top. The dominance continued and the pressure was soon rewarded with a second goal when Gordon did well to take down Sakas deep cross.Oozing confidence, Gordon rifled a low cross across the six-yard box, where Bellingham was on hand to steer the ball into the far corner. The one-way traffic continued as Gordon forced another save from Livakovic before the former Newcastle man did get his name on the scoresheet, heading in from Jarell Quansahs whipped delivery. Due to fan disruption in a previous game against France, the game was being played behind closed doors, save for 100 travelling England fans and a few thousand local young pupils. But it was the Croatian contingent on the pitch that seemed to be getting a schooling a miserable first half summed up by Mateo Kovacic somehow blasting wide with the goal at his mercy after rounding Jordan Pickford. To compound matters for the hosts, at the other end Bellingham crossed from the left and Saka duly converted to make it four before the break. More of the same after half-timeIt was a similar story after the restart, with Kane adding a fifth on 53 minutes after sliding to meet Elliot Andersons teasing cross. Bellingham squandered a chance for a sixth, but the next goal would eventually go Englands way, with Saka helping himself to a second after some torrid Croatian defending. The Three Lions were well and truly roaring, but Tuchel wasted little time in ringing the changes so as not to risk the likes of Gordon, Anderson and Kane. One of those introduced, Morgan Rogers, fired high over the bar from a promising position, but the Chelsea man would not allow a second sight of goal pass him by. Played clear through, Rogers rounded Livakovic before sliding in number seven to round off a resounding result for England against their old rivals. The UEFA Nations League Table UEFA Nations League 2026 World League A Group C #TeamPlayedWonDrawnLostGFGAGDPtsLast 2 1 Spain22007346 W W 2 England21014313 W W 3 Croatia210135-23 L L 4 Czechia200214-30 L L Position 1, 2 : Play Offs: Quarter-finals Position 3 : Relegation Playoffs Position 4 : Relegation Upcoming fixtures for Croatia and England Upcoming Fixtures : Croatia UEFA Nations League Croatia CRO 19:45 2026-10-06 Spain ESP UEFA Nations League England ENG 19:45 2026-11-12 Croatia CRO UEFA Nations League Croatia CRO 19:45 2026-11-15 Czechia CZE Upcoming Fixtures : England UEFA Nations League England ENG 19:45 2026-10-06 Czechia CZE UEFA Nations League England ENG 19:45 2026-11-12 Croatia CRO UEFA Nations League Spain ESP 19:45 2026-11-15 England ENG Topics Croatia National Football Team England National Football Team UEFA Nations League Add us as a preferred source on Google If you enjoy reading this article, you can help support our independent football journalism by adding 101 Great Goals as a preferred source You Should Also Read Spain vs Czechia: Line-ups confirmed as world champions look to extend unbeaten run Lauren Lister 3rd October, 2026 Croatia vs England: Line-ups confirmed as Scott makes first Three Lions start Lauren Lister 3rd October, 2026 Mancini hails Italy step forward after draw with France Nicholas McGee 2nd October, 2026 Zidane touched by Stade de France ovation but disappointed after Les Bleus draw with Italy Nicholas McGee 2nd October, 2026 UEFA Nations League: De Bruyne at the double for Belgium as Lewandowski scores treble and Dzeko bows out Nicholas McGee 2nd October, 2026 France 1-1 Italy: Zidanes 10 men endure frustrating homecoming as Azzurri claim point Nicholas McGee 2nd October, 2026
