England secured a convincing 7-0 victory over Croatia in a UEFA Nations League match on Saturday, October 3, 2026. The match took place in Rijeka, with England's Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka scoring two goals each. Jude Bellingham had a standout performance, scoring one goal and assisting three others. England's captain, Harry Kane, described the performance as "unbelievable" and emphasized the team's ability to control the game with and without the ball.
The match got off to a strong start, with England taking the lead in the seventh minute through a goal from Kane. Bellingham doubled the lead in the 21st minute, and Anthony Gordon added a third goal before halftime. Croatia's Mateo Kovacic missed a chance to reduce the deficit, but Bellingham's precise cross allowed Saka to score the fourth goal just before halftime. England continued to dominate in the second half, with Kane scoring his second goal and Saka adding his second.
England's victory moved them to second place in Group 3 of League A with six points from three matches. They trail Spain, who maintained their perfect record with a 3-1 win over the Czech Republic. Spain's win was secured through goals from Lamine Yamal, Rodri, and Mikel Merino. The Czech Republic's Jiri Slama scored a late consolation goal.
In the same group, Croatia has three points, while the Czech Republic remains without points. England's win marked a significant improvement in their performance, with Kane praising his team's ability to maintain a high level throughout the match. The team's next match is against the Czech Republic on Tuesday, where Kane may have the opportunity to equal Peter Shilton's record for most international appearances.
Spain's victory over the Czech Republic took place in Oviedo, with coach Luis de la Fuente making nine changes to the starting lineup that defeated Croatia 4-1 on Tuesday. Lamine Yamal gave Spain the lead with a remarkable goal in the sixth minute, and Rodri doubled the lead before halftime. The Czech Republic's Slama reduced the deficit in the 69th minute, but Ladislav Krejci's red card in the 85th minute sealed the win for Spain.
Mikel Merino scored the third goal for Spain, securing a 3-1 win and maintaining their perfect record in the competition. The win keeps Spain at the top of Group 3, three points clear of England. In other matches, Scotland defeated North Macedonia 2-0, and Switzerland came from behind to beat Slovenia 2-1.
The results leave Switzerland top of Group 1 in League B with nine points, while Scotland and Slovenia share second place with four points each. England's convincing win over Croatia and Spain's continued perfect record highlight the competitive nature of the UEFA Nations League.
Key points
- England defeated Croatia 7-0, with Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka scoring two goals each.
- Spain maintained their perfect record with a 3-1 win over the Czech Republic.
- Switzerland leads Group 1 in League B with nine points, while Scotland and Slovenia share second place.
