England delivered a historic performance in the UEFA Nations League, overwhelming Croatia with a 7-0 victory at Stadion HNK Rijeka on October 3, 2026. This result marks Croatia's heaviest defeat in their footballing history and England's most significant away win in recent times.
The scoring commenced early, with captain Harry Kane netting the opener in the 8th minute, assisted by Jude Bellingham. Bellingham himself doubled the lead in the 21st minute, capitalizing on a cross from Anthony Gordon. Gordon added his name to the scoresheet in the 39th minute, followed by Bukayo Saka's goal just before halftime, giving England a commanding 4-0 lead at the break.
The second half saw no respite for Croatia. Kane secured his brace in the 53rd minute, with an assist from Elliot Anderson. Saka matched this feat with his second goal in the 68th minute, courtesy of a Kane assist. Substitute Morgan Rogers capped off the scoring in the 87th minute, set up by Bellingham, bringing the final tally to 7-0.
This match set several records. England equaled their longest winning streak away from home, achieving nine consecutive victories, a feat last accomplished between December 1965 and October 1967. Additionally, this was the first time since March 2013 that four different England players scored in the first half of a match. Individually, Harry Kane became the first player to score 10 or more goals in three different calendar years for England, with 11 goals in 2026, 16 in 2021, and 12 in 2019. Anthony Gordon also made history by being directly involved in a goal in five consecutive England appearances over the past decade, contributing four goals and two assists.
Croatia's captain, Luka Modric, expressed profound disappointment, stating it was the first time in his 20-year international career that he felt "ashamed". The defeat raises questions about the future direction of the Croatian national team, especially following the departure of their long-time coach, Zlatko Dalic, after the World Cup.
England's head coach, Thomas Tuchel, praised his team's performance, describing it as "complete" and highlighting the fluidity and cohesion displayed throughout the match. This victory positions England favorably in their Nations League group, boosting their prospects for advancing to the quarter-finals.