What Happened
Thomas Tuchel's England delivered a stunning attacking masterclass in Rijeka, crushing Croatia 7-0 in the UEFA Nations League. The Three Lions ran riot from the opening whistle, as captain Harry Kane netted a precise brace, while Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, and Anthony Gordon all found the back of the net before halftime.
Second-half goals from Saka—securing his brace—and substitute Morgan Rogers compounded the misery for the hosts, sealing a historic and humiliating evening for the Balkan nation. The comprehensive victory stands as one of England's largest and most impressive away wins in modern competitive history.
Important Context
The fixture was initially billed as a high-stakes battle for the top spot in Group A3 under returning Croatia manager Slaven Bilic. Instead, Tuchel's tactical setup and England's blistering, high-tempo transitions completely exposed a sluggish and disorganized Croatian defensive line.
Croatia had previously shown encouraging signs under Bilic, including a solid win over the Czech Republic. However, consecutive defeats to Spain and now England have severely damaged their campaign, leaving them fighting just to retain their top-tier League A status in the competition.
Why It Matters
The catastrophic loss sent immediate shockwaves through Croatian football, particularly for veteran captain Luka Modric. Making his milestone 205th international appearance at age 41, the legendary midfielder admitted he felt "ashamed" for the first time in his two-decade career.
"You can't play football like that... we looked like we had four or five players less," Modric said bluntly after being substituted in the 57th minute. The former Real Madrid star noted that the team completely lacked the duels, tactical fouls, aggressiveness, and defensive togetherness that built their proud international reputation over the past twenty years. For England, the result validates Tuchel’s early managerial tenure, proving the squad can execute high-pressing, ruthless attacking football against elite European opponents.
What's Next
Croatia has no time to dwell on the historic thrashing. They face another daunting test on Tuesday when they host reigning world champions Spain in Split, where a response is urgently required to appease frustrated fans.
Meanwhile, Tuchel's England continue their confident march toward the knockout stages, backed by immense momentum. The Three Lions will look to maintain their flawless group form ahead of a return fixture against Croatia scheduled for November 12. Modric stressed that his squad must quickly rediscover their pride and defensive resilience to salvage any hope of advancing.
