England thrash Croatia 7-0 as Kane and Saka score twice

Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka each scored twice as England produced their biggest victory of the Thomas Tuchel era, overwhelming Croatia 7-0 in the Nations League in Rijeka.

The win gives England two victories from their opening three matches in the group, while Kane’s double took his record tally for his country to 89 goals.

Jude Bellingham and Anthony Gordon were also on target before Morgan Rogers completed a comprehensive victory. Bellingham, restored to the starting line-up after England’s 2-0 win against Czech Republic on Tuesday, also supplied three assists in an outstanding performance.

England are seeking a top-two finish to reach the Nations League quarter-finals in March. They will end the international break against Czech Republic at Wembley on Tuesday, in what should be a livelier occasion than their behind-closed-doors victory in Croatia.

The match was played without a full crowd as punishment for crowd trouble involving Croatia fans during a game against France in 2025. About 6,000 local schoolchildren and 100 England supporters were admitted to Stadion HNK Rijeka, creating a subdued atmosphere in a country renowned for hostile football environments.

Tuchel had warned that the relaxed mood in England’s camp, which included a dip in the nearby Adriatic Sea earlier in the week, could not be allowed to become “holiday mode”. His players responded by dismantling an ageing Croatia side in the sunshine beside the coast.

England needed only eight minutes to take control. Alex Scott, making his first start for England, played a calm pass into Bellingham, who sent the ball behind the Croatia defence. Kane took one touch before lifting a precise finish into the roof of the net from 10 yards.

Bellingham doubled the advantage in the 21st minute at the end of a 27-pass move. Saka’s cross was too high for his team-mates, but Gordon controlled it in the air and returned the ball into the six-yard box, where Bellingham stretched to guide it into the far corner.

Gordon made it 3-0 in the 39th minute, diving to head Jarell Quansah’s accurate cross beyond Dominik Livakovic from six yards. The assist offered an immediate response to criticism of Tuchel’s decision to select Quansah ahead of Trent Alexander-Arnold, who had made his first England start in nearly two years against Czech Republic.

England had beaten Croatia 4-2 in June in their opening World Cup group match, but this was an even more one-sided contest. Just before half-time, Bellingham beat Luka Modric with a drag-back and sent a low cross towards Saka, who finished from close range.

Kane struck again in the 53rd minute, sliding in to meet Elliot Anderson’s cross. Saka added the sixth in the 68th minute after Kane capitalised on another poor Croatia error, before substitute Rogers rounded Livakovic and scored from Bellingham’s pass in the 87th minute.