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England Croatia 7-0 became the standout result of the latest Nations League round as Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka scored twice each in a dominant performance in Rijeka.
Thomas Tuchel’s side controlled the game from the opening stages and turned that control into a record defeat for Croatia. Jude Bellingham scored once and created three goals, Anthony Gordon added another, and Morgan Rogers completed the scoring after coming on from the bench.
The result gave England six points from three matches in League A Group 3 and kept them three points behind Spain. It also provided a sharper answer to questions around England’s response after the disappointment of their World Cup campaign. Wowplus has previously covered debate around England’s attacking balance, and the performance in Croatia showed how much more aggressive this version of the team can look when its front players combine quickly.
Kane and Saka set the tone early
Kane opened the scoring after a pass from Bellingham, giving England the start they needed in a stadium where the official attendance was limited by UEFA sanctions. Bellingham then doubled the lead before Gordon and Saka struck to send England into half-time four goals ahead.
England did not slow down after the break. Kane added his second, Saka powered in another and Rogers finished the seventh after rounding goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic. The final score was Croatia’s heaviest defeat and one of England’s most emphatic away victories against a major European opponent.
Reuters reported that Kane’s brace moved him to 89 England goals, while Bellingham’s contribution gave Tuchel a midfield performance built on both creativity and pressing. Saka’s two goals underlined his growing importance to the national side beyond simply creating chances from wide areas.
The scoreline was striking, but the pattern of the match mattered just as much. England pressed Croatia high, moved the ball forward quickly after turnovers and repeatedly attacked the spaces around an ageing midfield. That intensity prevented Croatia from controlling the tempo in the way they have done in many previous international tournaments.
Bellingham gave England control and invention
Bellingham’s influence stretched well beyond his goal. He connected midfield to attack, found runners early and helped England play through pressure without becoming slow or predictable. His three assists meant England had a central creator who could also arrive in scoring positions.
That balance is important for Tuchel because England have often been criticised for having too many high-profile attackers without a clear structure connecting them. In Rijeka, the roles were easier to read. Kane dropped when needed, Saka and Gordon attacked space, and Bellingham supported the front line rather than occupying the same zones.
England’s wider Nations League history has included frustrating nights, and Wowplus once described the competition as a chance for England to reach another level. Seven years later, the Croatia result offered one of the clearest examples of what that level can look like when the team combines technical quality with intensity.
Alex Scott also impressed on his full debut. The Bournemouth midfielder played with confidence against experienced opposition and gave Tuchel another option in a part of the squad that remains highly competitive. His willingness to receive the ball under pressure helped England keep possession without sacrificing forward momentum.
Tuchel gets the response he wanted
England entered the international window needing evidence that the team could recover mentally as well as tactically. The heavy World Cup disappointment remained part of the conversation, and a narrow win would probably not have changed that mood. A seven-goal away victory does not erase previous failures, but it gives the squad a new reference point.
Tuchel described the performance as a step forward because England sustained their aggression instead of protecting an early lead. That is significant in tournament football, where elite teams are often separated by how effectively they punish opponents during periods of control.
The defensive work also deserves attention. Croatia still had moments when they tried to play through England’s press, but the visitors recovered quickly and limited the quality of the final pass. Jordan Pickford was required to make saves, yet England rarely looked stretched for long periods.
England’s older Nations League story has also included disciplinary and supporter issues, including Wowplus coverage of controversy around England fans at the competition. The Rijeka match had its own unusual atmosphere because of restrictions on the crowd, but the football itself became the main story.
What the 7-0 win means for the group
Spain remain top of Group 3 after beating Czechia 3-1, so England still have work to do. The result in Croatia improved their goal difference dramatically and strengthened their position in the race for the next stage, but it did not remove the importance of upcoming fixtures.
England next turn their attention to Czechia, with Kane also approaching another personal milestone in appearances. Tuchel will have decisions to make over rotation, especially after such an intense performance, but the temptation will be to preserve the partnerships that worked so well in Rijeka.
The biggest positive is that England’s attack no longer looked like a collection of individual stars waiting for isolated moments. Kane, Saka, Bellingham and Gordon played as parts of one system, while the midfield supported them aggressively.
A 7-0 scoreline will naturally dominate the headlines, but the more useful takeaway is how England produced it. The pressing, movement and speed of the combinations gave Tuchel a template he can now ask the team to repeat against stronger resistance.
Isiagu Tobby
Wowplus editorial contributor.
