Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka strike as England rout Croatia 4-0 at half-time

England produced a dominant first-half display against Croatia, taking a 4-0 lead in their Nations League meeting at Stadion Rujevica in Rijeka.

Anthony Gordon finally found a way past Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic in the 39th minute, heading home England’s third goal after three earlier attempts had been saved.

Jarell Quansah supplied the cross from the right and Gordon arrived at the far post to direct his header beyond Livakovic, his team-mate at Barcelona.

The goal ended a personal battle between Gordon and the goalkeeper. Livakovic had denied the England forward in the third, ninth and 25th minutes before Gordon converted his fourth opportunity.

England had already established control through Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham. Kane opened the scoring in the eighth minute after being set up by Bellingham, who then scored the second goal in the 21st minute.

Gordon played a part in Bellingham’s goal, continuing his influence on an attack which left England in complete command before the interval.

Bukayo Saka added a fourth goal shortly before half-time after England broke quickly. Bellingham delivered the ball across to the Arsenal forward, who finished the counter-attack by putting the ball into the net.

Saka’s goal came only a few minutes after Croatia had created their clearest opportunity of the opening period. Mateo Kovacic dribbled past the England defence and goalkeeper but was unable to score from close range with the goal almost unguarded.

The result left England in a commanding position at the break in the third round of the Nations League, with Croatia unable to contain their attacking threat. England’s four goals came from four different phases of the first half: Kane’s early finish, Bellingham’s strike, Gordon’s header and Saka’s counter-attacking effort.

Gordon’s goal was particularly significant after Livakovic had repeatedly kept him out, while Bellingham’s involvement in the first, second and fourth goals underlined his role in England’s powerful opening 45 minutes.