England produced one of their best performances in recent times in Rijeka, sweeping Croatia aside with a display that settled the contest long before the interval. Harry Kane opened the scoring, and Jude Bellingham, Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka all found the net before half-time. Kane then added a fifth early in the second half and Saka scored his second from close range, before substitute Morgan Rogers made it seven, rounding the goalkeeper after being played through on goal.
Bellingham was named the best player on the pitch by BBC Sport’s England reporter Alex Howell, who gave him a rating of 9. The midfielder produced a lovely pass to thread Kane through for the opening goal, scored England’s second and then assisted Saka for England’s fourth. Howell called him a truly world-class player whose quality was too much for Croatia throughout the game.
Kane was also given a 9. His goal put England firmly in control, and he looked full of energy, pressing from the front and showing his passing range as he enjoyed the service from Gordon and Bellingham around him. Gordon matched that score, playing with a huge amount of confidence and continuing to show that he has gone to another level in recent months. He assisted Bellingham and scored for the fourth England game in a row.
Saka, rated 8, scored twice and looks to be building a good partnership with Jarell Quansah on England’s right-hand side. He could have had a hat-trick but missed a big chance in the second half.
Quansah was surprisingly chosen at right-back ahead of Trent Alexander-Arnold but earned an 8, with the assessment noting that he does exactly what manager Thomas Tuchel wants. A powerful runner and a good defender, his ability on the ball was described as underrated, and he showed it with a quality assist for Gordon.
At the other end there was little for Ezri Konsa, Marc Guehi and Lewis Hall to do, though each was rated 7. Konsa produced a calm, assured performance with not loads of defending to do, while Guehi had to take up some risky positions as England pressed man to man all over the pitch. Hall looks a great addition to the England back four, offering pace going forward and also moving into midfield to receive the ball.
Jordan Pickford was given a 6. He made a really good decision and save when he raced out and won the ball at the feet of Ivan Perisic early on, but was otherwise untested and was lucky not to concede with Mateo Kovacic’s incredible miss.
In midfield, Elliot Anderson was rated 8 after another mature performance, having been excellent throughout the international break, and he set up Kane for England’s fifth. Alex Scott, handed his first England start, was given a 7 for a really confident display; he always looked to get on the ball and did not just try to keep it safe as England dominated.
Among the substitutes, Eberechi Eze and Morgan Rogers both came on after 70 minutes, Eze for Gordon and playing as a number 10, Rogers for Kane and playing on the left. Rogers took a 7 for the composed finish that rounded off the scoring, while Eze was given a 6. James Garner, also introduced after 70 minutes in place of Scott, was rated 6 for some strong challenges, having kept it simple. Morgan Gibbs-White, on for Anderson after 79 minutes, and Myles Lewis-Skelly, on for Hall, were both given a 6. Steele, Trafford, Alexander-Arnold, Branthwaite, Calvert-Lewin, Chalobah and Ngumoha were unused.