England produced a 7-0 Nations League win over Croatia in Rijeka, with Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka scoring twice and Alex Scott impressing on his first start for Thomas Tuchel’s side.
Jude Bellingham scored once and created three goals, while Anthony Gordon and Morgan Rogers completed England’s scoring in a result that left Croatia captain Luka Modric describing his team’s display as unacceptable.
The scale of the victory was striking against opponents who had begun the round level on points with England. Croatia had the opportunity to move into a strong position in the group, where the top two progress to the latter stages, but England had established a 5-0 lead by the time Modric was substituted in the 57th minute.
For Tuchel, the performance also offered encouraging evidence of the combinations he said England have been working to develop. The England manager said he had deliberately resisted extensive changes from one match to the next in an attempt to improve the fluency and movements of his attacking players.
Scott takes first start in his stride
Scott was handed his first England start in midfield alongside Elliot Anderson. Tuchel said the Bournemouth player had delivered an outstanding performance and praised both his work with the ball and his contribution without it.
According to Tuchel, Scott showed high-level decision-making, confidence and activity, while providing mobility and variety in central areas. That assessment matters because England’s seven goals were not presented by the manager as solely an attacking display: he said the team’s work rate and collective effort underpinned the threat created further forward.
The players ahead of Scott made the most visible impact. Kane and Saka each scored twice, Bellingham added a goal and three assists, and Gordon and Rogers also found the net. Tuchel said the front four were looking especially dangerous and were enjoying playing together.
He suggested the approach reflected the players’ own conviction as much as instruction from the coaching staff. England, he said, wanted to play on the front foot and had bought into that identity. The manager’s emphasis on continuity is therefore significant: rather than describing the performance as an isolated surge, he linked it to work on automatisms and movement within the forward line.
Kane calls for England to sustain intent
Kane said the result should reinforce the mentality England need in demanding matches. The captain argued that the side had continued to chase further goals after going ahead, rather than settling for a small advantage, and said that had to become their established approach.
He characterised England’s display as relentless and said a consistent style could not be used selectively. Kane also viewed the victory as a valuable test against a strong opponent, rather than a result to be taken for granted, and said performances of that type could strengthen the group’s motivation.
That is a measured way to view an emphatic scoreline. England’s attacking output and Tuchel’s positive appraisal provide clear encouragement, especially with Scott adapting quickly to a first start. Yet the manager’s focus on repeated selections and growing cohesion also acknowledges that a tactical direction must be demonstrated over more than one game.
Modric acknowledges Croatia’s failure
Modric said England were the better team but was particularly critical of Croatia’s lack of duels, aggression, togetherness and willingness. The captain said he had never previously felt ashamed after an international match across 20 years with the national team.
He accepted that sides can lose to superior opponents, but said Croatia could not accept surrendering the reputation they had built with a defeat of this scale. Modric said the squad needed to regroup and remain united before another difficult match, while showing defiance, pride, desire and togetherness.
Croatia are third in the table and next host Spain, before ending their campaign with fixtures away to England and at home to Czech Republic.
England’s next match is against Czech Republic. Tuchel’s comments framed collective movement, pressure and attacking intent as the standards England are seeking to sustain.