England delivered a devastating 7-0 victory over Croatia in Rijeka, marking the Croatians' heaviest-ever defeat and their most goals conceded in any previous home match was four. Thomas Tuchel's side were ruthless, with all four members of the front four scoring in the first half, adding three more after the interval.
Ruthless Display in Rijeka
In front of 100 “hardcore” England fans and 6,200 Croatian schoolchildren, in a match officially played “behind closed doors” due to a UEFA sanction, England were scintillating throughout. The win was England's tenth game against Croatia since 2004 and their sixth since 2018, with Slaven Bilic back in charge of the hosts.
Roy Keane said on punditry for ITV after the game that England made Croatia look like “a Gibraltar-type team.” Croatia were poor, making horrific errors that culminated in Josip Stanisic’s awful square ball right into Bukayo Saka to score. England, though, were as good as Croatia were miserable, with the performance their finest under Tuchel.
Star Performers Shine
Saka scored twice, Harry Kane also helped himself to a brace, and Jude Bellingham tallied a goal and three assists. The Real Madrid star was comfortably the best player on the pitch. Anthony Gordon, with a smart header, and late substitute Morgan Rogers, with a skilful solo counter-attack, also found the net.
In midfield, Elliot Anderson and Alex Scott had just 20 caps between them, while their opponents Luka Modric and Mateo Kovacic had 323. But it was England’s double pivot that gave Croatia’s a lesson in control, counter-pressing and how to run a game from the middle of the park. “It was hard work in midfield,” said Scott, “But that’s what we’re best at: being intense.”
Saka Stars at the Right Time
Coming into the game, it felt an important evening for Bukayo Saka after a frustrating watch four days earlier against the Czech Republic. In Rijeka, it was a different story entirely. Saka made shrewd decisions, setting up Bellingham’s goal with a gliding ball over the top for Gordon to deliver.
Right on half time, Saka converted from close range from a Bellingham cross and obliged after the interval as Kane unselfishly laid off. It could and should have even been a hat trick and a 20th international goal when Bellingham drove the ball across the danger area, but Saka slashed over from very close range. He reminded Tuchel why he is England’s clear first-choice on the right flank, on a night when England reminded us why they are one of the very best teams around.
