Croatia is reeling after England handed the national team a record 7-0 defeat. Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka both scored braces, with Anthony Gordon and Jude Bellingham also on the scoresheet, in front of a crowd of 6,000 schoolchildren in Rijeka.
Press and players react with shame
The reaction from the Croatian team and press has been bitter. Jutarnji List, Croatia’s most-read daily newspaper, referred to the match as “the debacle,” dubbing it “a tragedy and trauma for a lifetime.” Others called it a “football massacre” and an “unprecedented shame.”
Luka Modric, making his 205th appearance for his nation, said he had no excuses for the dismal performance. Appearing on the brink of tears, he told the press: "You can't play football like that... we looked like we had four or five players less."
"It is difficult to find an explanation for such a performance without duels, fouls, aggressiveness, togetherness. I've been here for 20 years, but for the first time I feel ashamed after a game. You can lose, or play against an opponent who is better - and they are right now. But in any case, losing like this and squandering the reputation we've built over the years is unacceptable... [it was a] catastrophic night [for Croatia]."
Manager under fire
Manager Slaven Bilic, appointed to his most recent spell with the Vatreni in July, has come in for considerable criticism. One Croatian journalist wrote England had played as if they wanted the former West Ham and Watford boss sacked, and fans have already called for his head to roll. A poll run by Croatian news site 24sata found 80 per cent of respondents want him dismissed.
Assessing the match at full-time, Bilic said: "I don't have an answer, I've never shied away from responsibility. We have some players who are not up to standard. But there can't be this much difference."
"It would have been different if England had played with an unexpected line-up. They played exactly how they always play. A little different than at the World Cup, but we had a pattern based on which we prepared the game. They caught us in the actions we predicted and knew they were expecting us. We weren't surprised, everything was as we had prepared. Tonight we didn't have that energy. It was evident from the first second, they trampled on us."
Rock bottom for Croatia
Winger Franjo Ivanovic also fronted up to the press at full-time, saying this is rock bottom for Croatia. "This is Croatia at its weakest," the Lens star declared to 24sata. "Since I've been in the national team, I've never seen Croatia so bad. Seven goals against the English. It's a disaster. We have to improve our game and attitude in three days and be better in our minds."
Things get no easier for Croatia now, with Bilic promising to make plenty of changes before visiting world champions Spain in their final outing of this international break.
