England produced a ruthless and historic Nations League performance in Rijeka, thrashing Croatia 7-0 to tighten their hold on second place in their group and strengthen their chances of reaching next year’s quarter-finals. Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka both scored twice, while Jude Bellingham delivered a goal and three assists in a display that Thomas Tuchel delighted in as England’s most complete since surging to a 4-2 win over Croatia at the World Cup.
Kane marked his 124th cap with his 88th and 89th international goals. He opened the scoring in the eighth minute after Marc Guéhi intercepted a loose pass from Josko Gvardiol; Bellingham played him through a gap and Kane, free of Gvardiol and Luka Vuskovic, rammed a shot past Dominik Livakovic. Bellingham made it 2-0 in the 21st minute, stabbing in from close range after Anthony Gordon plucked Saka’s cross out of the air and drove a low ball into the six-yard box.
Gordon was a constant outlet on the left, linking with Lewis Hall and repeatedly getting beyond Josip Stanisic. He made it 3-0 by heading in Jarell Quansah’s cross, a response from the right-back after criticism of his crossing, and now has a goal or assist in each of his last seven England games. Quansah was one of five changes made by Tuchel, who also restored Jordan Pickford in goal. Pickford remained England’s No 1 and made a key intervention at 1-0, rushing out to smother as Ivan Perisic threatened.
England dozed off after Gordon’s goal. A rare misstep from Elliot Anderson allowed Mateo Kovacic an opening, but he shot wide after rounding Pickford. England responded on the stroke of half-time. Kane dropped back to start a counterattack, Bellingham toyed with Croatia and crossed for Saka to score.
After the break there was no let-up. Anderson zipped down the right and crossed for a stretching Kane to score. Kane then set up Saka to make it 6-0 in the 68th minute. Bellingham, still going near the end, sent substitute Morgan Rogers through to complete the 7-0 rout. Croatia removed Luka Modric, and the home side suffered their biggest ever defeat.
Alex Scott’s full debut was another feature. The 22-year-old Bournemouth player, winning his second cap, impressed with his tenacity and quality on and off the ball, and a defence-splitting ball to release Gordon underlined his potential. Tuchel deployed him against Modric, who at 41 was accompanied by Mateo Kovacic, and Scott and Anderson resumed the partnership that helped England win the Under-21 European Championship last year. Bellingham returned after being rested for Tuesday’s 2-0 win over Czechia.
The occasion had an unusual backdrop. The 6,200 Croatian under-14s inside Stadion HNK Rijeka were invited free of charge, while 100 England fans were given tickets. The match was meant to be behind closed doors again after Uefa punished Croatia for discriminatory and racist fan behaviour during last year’s Nations League quarter-finals, but rules allowed tickets to go to local children. It was not as surreal as 2018, when England played here with no supporters present.
Slaven Bilic, back in charge of Croatia for a second spell, was powerless to respond as England proved quicker and stronger, pressing aggressively and reducing Croatia to damage limitation. Croatia are ranked 12th in the world but England could have reached double figures. Kane, who is 33, will equal Peter Shilton’s appearance record when England host Czechia on Tuesday.