England secured a historic 7-0 victory over Croatia in their UEFA Nations League match on Saturday, October 3, 2026. The emphatic win was achieved at Rijeka, with goals from Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Anthony Gordon, and Morgan Rogers. This result strengthens England's position in Group A3, following their previous 3-2 defeat to Spain and 2-0 win over Czechia.
The match began with Kane opening the scoring after just eight minutes, calmly lifting the ball beyond Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livaković. Bellingham doubled England's lead in the 21st minute after Gordon created an opportunity inside the box. England continued to dominate possession, with Saka scoring twice before halftime to give England a commanding 4-0 lead.
England resumed the second half with the same attacking intent, rather than retreating to protect their four-goal advantage. Kane completed his brace in the 53rd minute after Elliot Anderson won possession and delivered a low ball into the penalty area. Gordon then added a sixth goal as England continued to exploit gaps in the Croatian defense.
Morgan Rogers completed the rout late in the match, calmly finishing after rounding Livaković to make it 7-0. The final whistle confirmed England's biggest win of the campaign and one of Croatia's heaviest defeats on home soil. The defeat was particularly disappointing for Croatia, who had experienced players like Luka Modrić in their lineup.
The result also gave England a significant boost in goal difference as they battle for the leading positions in Group A3. England's victory adds greater significance to the other fixtures in the group, particularly Spain's meeting with Czechia. Spain had started the campaign strongly, defeating England 3-2 at Wembley before recording a 4-1 victory over Croatia.
In other Nations League matches, Finland defeated Albania 2-1 in Group C1, with Leo Walta scoring twice to complete the comeback. Poland recorded an emphatic 6-0 victory over Romania, with Robert Lewandowski scoring a hat-trick. Northern Ireland also enjoyed a memorable night, defeating Ukraine 3-0, with Ciaron Brown scoring twice.
Other notable results included Belgium's 3-0 victory over Türkiye, with Kevin De Bruyne scoring twice, and a 1-1 draw between France and Italy. Portugal maintained their winning momentum with a 4-2 victory over Denmark, showcasing their attacking quality in a six-goal encounter.
Key points
- England secured a historic 7-0 victory over Croatia in their UEFA Nations League match.
- The win strengthens England's position in Group A3, following their previous 3-2 defeat to Spain and 2-0 win over Czechia.
- England's victory adds greater significance to the other fixtures in Group A3, particularly Spain's meeting with Czechia.
