England produced a breathtaking attacking display in Rijeka on Saturday, October 3, 2026, tearing Croatia apart with a stunning 7-0 victory in the UEFA Nations League.
Thomas Tuchel’s side needed only eight minutes to open the scoring and never allowed their hosts to settle, racing into a 4-0 half-time lead before adding three more goals after the interval.
Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka both scored twice, while Jude Bellingham delivered an outstanding all-round performance with one goal and three assists. Anthony Gordon also found the net before substitute Morgan Rogers completed the rout late in the game.
England’s opener arrived in the eighth minute after Croatia lost possession. Alex Scott helped move the ball forward before Bellingham spotted Kane’s run and threaded a precise pass behind the defence. Kane controlled the ball before firing a clinical finish high into the net from close range to put England 1-0 ahead.
The visitors continued to attack with confidence, and their pressure produced a second goal in the 21st minute.
Saka’s cross initially appeared to have gone beyond its intended target, but Gordon produced an excellent first touch to keep the move alive. He reached the byline and sent a low ball across the face of goal, allowing Bellingham to arrive and finish from close range for England’s second.
Croatia briefly threatened to respond, but England remained firmly in control.
The third goal arrived in the 39th minute. Kane found Jarell Quansah on the right, and the defender delivered a dangerous cross towards the far post. Gordon attacked the ball ahead of his marker and powered a header into the top corner, giving Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic no chance.
Croatia came close to reducing the deficit shortly afterwards when Mateo Kovacic burst through the England midfield after an error from Elliot Anderson. The Croatian midfielder worked his way past several challenges and found himself with a clear opportunity from close range, but he dragged his effort wide with the goal at his mercy.
Instead of 3-1, England made it 4-0 before the break.
Gordon and Bellingham combined down the left before Bellingham delivered a low cross into the six-yard area. Saka had found space in front of goal and made no mistake, guiding the ball home in the 45th minute.
England went into half-time four goals ahead, with Croatia already looking overwhelmed.
The fifth arrived seven minutes after the restart.
Saka combined with Elliot Anderson during another flowing England attack, with Anderson breaking into the penalty area before sending a low cross towards the back post. Kane slid in and converted from close range in the 53rd minute to claim his second goal of the night.
The England captain’s brace took his international tally to 89 goals in 124 appearances, moving him to within one appearance of equalling Peter Shilton’s England men’s record of 125 caps.
Croatia’s problems became even worse in the 68th minute when Saka scored his second.
Josip Stanisic’s loose pass presented England with possession inside the Croatian penalty area. Saka collected the ball and worked a neat exchange with Kane before lifting his finish over Livakovic and into the top-left corner.
Saka had an opportunity to complete his hat-trick later in the match but missed from extremely close range, sending the effort over the bar.
England then made it seven in the 87th minute.
Bellingham supplied his third assist of the night with a perfectly weighted ball over the Croatian defence. Morgan Rogers raced onto the pass, rounded Livakovic and calmly rolled the ball into the empty net to complete an extraordinary victory.
The final whistle confirmed one of England’s biggest away victories and Croatia’s heaviest defeat in their history. It was also England’s biggest victory in the UEFA Nations League and their biggest win since the 7-0 victory over North Macedonia in June 2023.
Bellingham was central to almost everything England produced. Rather than a hat-trick, as initially suggested, the Real Madrid midfielder finished with one goal and three assists, directly contributing to four of England’s seven goals. He created the opener for Kane, helped create his own goal through Gordon’s work, supplied Saka for the fourth and later released Rogers for the seventh.
Kane and Saka provided the finishing power, while Gordon’s relentless movement and Quansah’s delivery added another dimension to England’s attack.
Croatia, meanwhile, struggled to cope with England’s pace, movement and quick combinations. Their only booking of the match went to Kovacic, who was shown a yellow card in the second half.
The 7-0 scoreline was more than a comfortable victory. It was a statement performance from an England side that attacked with speed, created chances from multiple areas and maintained pressure long after the result was effectively settled.
For Croatia, the night ended in disappointment. For England, Rijeka became the stage for a seven-goal attacking masterclass.
Final Score: Croatia 0-7 England
Goals: Kane 8′, Bellingham 21′, Gordon 39′, Saka 45′, Kane 53′, Saka 68′, Rogers 87′.
