Today’s match at Stadion HNK Rijeka ended:
– Kane 8′, 53′ (88th & 89th England goals – 124 caps)
– Bellingham 21′ + 3 assists
– Gordon 39′
– Saka 45+1′, 68′
– Rogers 87′
Biggest defeat in Croatia history, beating their previous worst 6-0 loss to Spain in 2018. Match played behind closed doors due to UEFA sanction – only 6,000 kids + 100 England fans allowed. England now on 6 points in Group A3, level with Spain.
*England Hand Croatia Heaviest-Ever Defeat in 7-0 Nations League Thrashing at Rijeka*
England produced one of the greatest away performances in their history as they handed Croatia their heaviest-ever defeat with a stunning 7-0 victory in the UEFA Nations League on Saturday.
The Three Lions ran riot at the Stadion HNK Rijeka in front of an unusual crowd of just 6,000 schoolchildren, after Croatia were forced to play behind closed doors due to a UEFA spectator ban for previous fan disturbances.
Thomas Tuchel’s men wasted no time and raced into a 4-0 lead before half-time.
Captain Harry Kane opened the floodgates in the 8th minute when he latched onto a perfectly threaded pass from Jude Bellingham and fired past Dominik Livakovic.
Bellingham turned from provider to scorer in the 21st minute, tapping in from Anthony Gordon’s assist to make it 2-0. Gordon, who was a constant threat, got his reward in the 39th minute when he headed home from Jarrell Quansah’s cross for 3-0.
Bukayo Saka made it 4-0 on the stroke of half-time after being left unmarked to tap in Bellingham’s square ball.
The second half was more of the same. Kane grabbed his second and England’s fifth in the 53rd minute, sliding in Elliot Anderson’s low cross at the far post. The goal marked his 88th and 89th for England on his 124th cap, moving him to within one of Peter Shilton’s all-time appearance record.
A defensive error from Josip Stanisic gifted Saka his second in the 68th minute after a neat one-two with Kane to make it 6-0.
Substitute Morgan Rogers completed the historic rout in the 87th minute.
The 7-0 scoreline is officially Croatia’s heaviest defeat ever, surpassing their 6-0 loss to Spain in 2018 and their 5-1 defeat to England in 2009.
Star man Jude Bellingham finished with 1 goal and 3 assists in a man-of-the-match display, while Kane and Saka both bagged braces.
The result moves England to 6 points in Group A3, level with leaders Spain who have a game in hand.
