{"id":265708,"date":"2026-10-03T19:50:37","date_gmt":"2026-10-03T19:50:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/03\/england-runs-riot-in-nations-league-rout-of-croatia-thescore\/"},"modified":"2026-10-03T19:50:37","modified_gmt":"2026-10-03T19:50:37","slug":"england-runs-riot-in-nations-league-rout-of-croatia-thescore","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/03\/england-runs-riot-in-nations-league-rout-of-croatia-thescore\/","title":{"rendered":"England runs riot in Nations League rout of Croatia | theScore"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka both struck twice as England ran riot in a 7-0 rout of abject Croatia in the Nations League on Saturday.<\/p>\n

Thomas Tuchel’s side ripped Croatia to shreds in Rijeka to make it two wins from their first three matches in their Nations League group.<\/p>\n

England captain Kane’s double extended his record goal tally for his country to 89.<\/p>\n

But the Bayern Munich striker was far from the only stand-out performer for England.<\/p>\n

Arsenal winger Saka also bagged a brace as England recorded the biggest win margin of the Tuchel era.<\/p>\n

Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham, restored to the starting line-up after Tuesday’s 2-0 win against Czech Republic, was on target to cap a vibrant display featuring three assists.<\/p>\n

The effervescent Anthony Gordon netted to make it four goals in his last four England matches before Morgan Rogers completed the annihilation.<\/p>\n

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5 – England are the first team to score five goals in an away game against Croatia.<\/p>\n

Battering. pic.twitter.com\/XuO3Gex6g0<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 3, 2026<\/a>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n

Chasing a top-two finish to secure a spot in the Nations League quarter-finals in March, England conclude the international break against Czech Republic at Wembley on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

That should be a slightly more raucous occasion than this tie, which was played ‘behind closed doors’ because of crowd trouble involving Croatia fans against France in 2025.<\/p>\n

Around 6,000 local school children and 100 England supporters were allowed into the Stadion HNK Rijeka, creating a subdued environment in a country known for its hostile atmospheres.<\/p>\n

England’s players had taken a dip in the nearby Adriatic Sea earlier in the week, prompting Tuchel to warn the relaxed mood in the camp must not put his team into “holiday mode”.<\/p>\n

But with the Adriatic shimmering in the sun just yards from the stadium, it was child’s play for England as they demolished ageing Croatia to disappoint the youthful crowd.<\/p>\n

Tuchel’s men took just eight minutes to go ahead with an incisive raid that exposed the talent gap between the side.<\/p>\n

Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott, making his first start for England, was the catalyst with a composed pass to Bellingham.<\/p>\n

Bellingham slipped an equally measured ball in behind the flat-footed Croatia defence and Kane took a deft touch before stroking a clinical finish into the roof of the net from 10 yards.<\/p>\n

No mercy<\/strong><\/p>\n

England had too much pace and poise for Croatia and it was no surprise when Bellingham increased their advantage at the end of flowing 27-pass move in the 21st minute.<\/p>\n

Saka’s cross was too high for his team-mates, but Gordon adroitly controlled the ball in mid-air and whipped it back into the six-yard box, where Bellingham stretched to poke into the far corner.<\/p>\n

Gordon put the result beyond doubt in the 39th minute, diving to meet Jarell Quansah’s pin-point cross with an agile header that flashed past Dominik Livakovic from six yards.<\/p>\n

Quansah’s assist was a timely riposte to the critics who said Tuchel was wrong to select him instead of Trent Alexander-Arnold after the Real Madrid right-back made his first England start in nearly two years against Czech Republic.<\/p>\n

England beat Croatia 4-2 in June in their opening World Cup group game, but this was a far more one-sided encounter.<\/p>\n

Bellingham was in irrepressible mood, driving into the Croatia area and baffling Luka Modric with a smooth drag-back before crossing low towards Saka, who slotted home from close-range on the stroke of half-time.<\/p>\n

England showed no mercy after the interval and Kane netted again in the 53rd minute, sliding in to convert Anderson’s cross with ease.<\/p>\n

Saka got the sixth from Kane’s pass after another woeful error from hapless Croatia in the 68th minute.<\/p>\n

Rogers came off the bench to put the seal on England’s swaggering display, rounding Livakovic to net from Bellingham’s 87th minute pass.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n