England Thrash Croatia 7-0 for Record Nations League Win

A rout from the opening minutes

England delivered a record-breaking performance in Rijeka on Saturday, beating Croatia 7-0 in a UEFA Nations League Group A3 fixture that was effectively decided before halftime. The result stands as Croatia's heaviest ever defeat and gave Thomas Tuchel's side their second win of the campaign.

Harry Kane set the tone inside eight minutes, finishing off a Jude Bellingham through-ball to open the scoring. Bellingham turned from provider to scorer in the 21st minute, converting from a Bukayo Saka and Anthony Gordon combination. Gordon then headed in a third six minutes before the break from a Jarell Quansah cross, and Saka added a fourth on the stroke of halftime after a swift counter-attack, sending England in 4-0 up at the interval.

No let-up after the break

Croatia manager Slaven Bilić made a triple substitution at halftime trying to stem the bleeding, but it made little difference. Kane struck again in the 53rd minute off an Elliot Anderson pass for his second of the match, and Saka completed his own brace in the 68th minute after pouncing on a Croatian defensive error, set up by Kane. Substitute Morgan Rogers, on for Gordon, capped the scoring in the 87th minute, finishing off a long ball from Bellingham.

A familiar story for Croatia

The result marks the second time England have beaten Croatia in 2026, following a win over the same opposition at the World Cup in Dallas earlier in the year. England's starting lineup featured Jordan Pickford in goal behind a backline including Marc Guehi and Jarell Quansah, with Bellingham pulling the strings in midfield and a front line of Saka, Gordon and Kane that proved far too much for Croatia to handle on the night.