England condemned Croatia to their worst-ever defeat with a 7-0 victory in Rijeka in a ruthless UEFA Nations League display.
Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka fired England into a 4-0 lead at half-time, before Kane and Saka both completed their braces early in the second half, whilst Morgan Rogers wrapped up the victory with a 87th-minute finish.
England now sit top in League A3 on six points ahead of Croatia who sit third, and now level with Spain who face Czech Republic in the primetime kick-off.
Having defeated Croatia in a six-goal thriller in their World Cup opener in June in Arlington, Texas, USA, England surprisingly began this match in control as Anthony Gordon saw a third-minute shot saved by Dominik Livakovic.
Croatia soon proved their own undoing after a stray long eighth-minute pass up the left from Josko Gvardiol was intercepted by Marc Guehi, who teed up Alex Scott on his first start and the midfielder played Bellingham forward to slip Kane through to loop the ball into the top left corner.
Gordon then saw a second shot saved by Livakovic a minute later but proceeded to set up their second goal in the 21st minute, as he flicked down Saka’s cross and cut back for Bellingham to rifle in past Livakovic to double the Three Lions’ lead.
Saka then headed over the bar three minutes later as Croatia continued to struggle to deal with England’s intensity.
Croatia eventually collapsed defensively as Gordon nodded Jarell Quansah’s 39th-minute cross into his near-bottom left corner, before Saka poked a low cross from Bellingham into the net just five minutes later to leave the visitors in control at half time.
Slavan Bilic introduced Mario Pasalic, Nikola Vlasic and Igor Matanovic at half time in hope of sparking a miraculous comeback, yet those dreams were soon ruined when Kane poked in his second goal off his right foot from Elliot Anderson’s cross in the 52nd minute.
Croatia’s nightmare could of got worse in the 56th minute after Gordon played Bellingham forward but the latter fired wide.
England however weren’t denied their sixth goal in the 68th minute after Saka intercepted a cross and teed up Kane, who returned the ball to the right winger who smashed into the far-top right corner.
Croatia eventually failed to convert a single shot on target and were left further humiliated in the 87th minute after Rogers fired in from Bellingham’s pass.
What’s Next?
Croatia remain at home for their fourth game in the group as they head to Stadion Poljud, Split, to host Spain in their first reverse fixture, having lost 4-1 away last Tuesday (29 September) in Seville.
England will too be in action at the same time on Tuesday 6 October as they host Czech Republic at Wembley Stadium, London.
Teams
Croatia: Dominik Livakovic, Josip Stanisic (Sutalo 76′), Luka Vuskovic, Josko Gvardiol, Ivan Perisic, Luka Modric (Jakic 57′), Mateo Kovacic, Franjo Ivanovic, Petar Sucic (Mario Pasalic 46′), Martin Baturina (Vlasic 46′), Petar Musa (Matanovic 46′)
Substitutes: Kristijan Jakic, Dominik Kotarski, Andrej Kramaric, Igor Matanovic, Josip Misic, Ivor Pandur, Marco Pasalic, Mario Pasalic, Ivan Smolcic, Luka Sucic, Nikola Vlasic, Josip Sutalo
England: Jordan Pickford, Jarell Quansah, Ezri Konsa, Marc Guehi, Lewis Hall (Lewis-Skelly 79′), Elliot Anderson (Gibbs-White 79′), Alex Scott (Garner 70′), Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham, Anthony Gordon (Eze 70′), Harry Kane (Rogers 70′)
Substitutes: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jarrad Branthwaite, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Trevoh Chalobah, Eberechi Eze, James Garner, Morgan Gibbs-White, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Rio Ngumoha, Morgan Rogers, Jason Steele, James Trafford
Referee – Sven Jablonski (Germany)
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