England delivered a dominant performance in Rijeka, dismantling Croatia 7-0 in their UEFA Nations League Group A3 fixture on Saturday. Thomas Tuchel’s side proved relentless from start to finish, with their dynamic front four carving through Slaven Bilic’s team at Stadion HNK Rijeka to secure their second win in three group matches. Captain Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka each scored twice, while Jude Bellingham turned in an outstanding performance with a goal and three assists. Anthony Gordon registered a goal and an assist, and substitute Morgan Rogers added his name to the scoresheet as the Three Lions overwhelmed their hosts.
England’s attacking quartet demonstrated remarkable fluidity throughout the contest, constantly interchanging positions to dismantle the Croatian defense. Kane highlighted the chemistry between himself, Saka, Bellingham, and Gordon, noting that all four players possess the tactical intelligence to operate across multiple roles. The frontline rotated seamlessly, with players moving between the number 10 pocket, wide areas, and central striker positions, while Kane occasionally dropped deeper into midfield. The captain emphasized that the team maintained their ruthless approach even after taking an early lead, insisting that searching for further goals must remain England’s core blueprint moving forward.
For Kane, the night marked another significant step in an extraordinary international career. The 33-year-old Bayern Munich forward elevated his tally to 89 international goals from 124 appearances, moving within 11 goals of a century for his country. Kane is now poised to equal Peter Shilton’s record of 125 caps when England face Czechia on Tuesday. The match in Rijeka also featured game time for Bournemouth’s Alex Scott, while 23-year-old Real Madrid star Bellingham built on his impressive form following the World Cup, spearheading an offensive display that could have yielded even more goals.
In the evening’s other major Nations League fixture, World Cup winners Spain made it three wins from three group matches with a 3-1 victory against the Czech Republic in Oviedo. The win extended Spain’s remarkable unbeaten run to 41 consecutive games. Lamine Yamal opened the scoring with an exquisite finish before Rodri added a second to put the hosts in command. Jiri Slama pulled a goal back for the Czechs to threaten a comeback, but Mikel Merino came off the bench midway through the second half to deliver a crucial late goal and secure all three points.
Following the match, Rodri praised the tactical discipline of the opposition, observing that the Czech side was well drilled and provided one of the toughest tests of Spain’s campaign so far. With Spain maintaining control of their group and England making a resounding statement on the road in Croatia, both sides remain firmly set on building further momentum as the Nations League group stage progresses.
