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England routed Croatia 7-0 in Rijeka as Bukayo Saka and Harry Kane both scored twice and Jude Bellingham starred with a goal and three assists.
England delivered a stunning 7-0 victory over Croatia in their UEFA Nations League Group 3 match at the Stadion HNK Rijeka in Rijeka on Saturday, October 3, 2026. Bukayo Saka and Harry Kane each scored twice, while Jude Bellingham added a goal and three assists in a dominant display. The win gives England two victories from their first three group matches under manager Thomas Tuchel.
England Run Riot in Rijeka
England took just eight minutes to break the deadlock through a sweeping move. Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott, making his first start, played a composed pass to Jude Bellingham. Bellingham then slipped a measured ball behind the Croatia defence, and Harry Kane took a deft touch before firing into the roof of the net from 10 yards.
Kane doubled his tally later, while Saka also struck twice as England ripped Croatia apart. Bellingham, restored to the starting line-up after Tuesday’s 2-0 win against the Czech Republic, capped a vibrant performance with a goal of his own. Anthony Gordon netted to make it four goals in his last four England matches, and Morgan Rogers completed the rout.
Bellingham and Kane Shine Bright
Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham was at the heart of England’s attacking play, delivering three assists in addition to his goal. The 23-year-old’s display underlined his importance to Tuchel’s side, having been rested for the midweek fixture. Kane, England’s captain and record goalscorer, was equally lethal, showcasing his clinical finishing with two well-taken goals.
Anthony Gordon continued his impressive international form, scoring his fourth goal in as many matches for England. The Newcastle winger’s pace and directness caused Croatia problems throughout. Morgan Rogers, introduced as a substitute, added the seventh goal to complete the annihilation.
Behind Closed Doors but England Dominate
The match was played behind closed doors due to crowd trouble involving Croatia fans against France in 2025. Around 6,000 local schoolchildren and 100 England supporters were allowed into the Stadion HNK Rijeka, creating a subdued atmosphere in a country known for its hostile football environments.
England’s players had taken a dip in the nearby Adriatic Sea earlier in the week, prompting Tuchel to warn that the relaxed mood must not put his team into holiday mode. But with the Adriatic shimmering in the sun just yards from the stadium, it was child’s play for England as they demolished an ageing Croatia side.
Tuchel’s men now have two wins from their first three Nations League group matches. They conclude the international break against the Czech Republic at Wembley on Tuesday, a fixture expected to be far more raucous than the behind-closed-doors encounter in Rijeka. England are chasing a top-two finish to secure a spot in the Nations League quarter-finals in March.
England Croatia UEFA Nations League Jude Bellingham Harry Kane Bukayo Saka Thomas Tuchel
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England Beat Croatia 7-0 in UEFA Nations LeagueEngland produced a dominant attacking performance to defeat Croatia 7-0 in the UEFA Nations League. Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka scored twice each, while Jude Bellingham scored once and provided two assists. England established a four-goal first-half lead and maintained their intensity after the break to secure a commanding Group 3 victory.
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