England Faces Croatia in Nations League Clash

Kick-off is set for 5pm BST as England prepares to go head-to-head with Croatia in the Nations League. After a solid 2-0 victory in Czechia, the Three Lions are looking to keep the momentum going. Trent Alexander-Arnold may have shone against the Czechs, but he’s making way for Jarell Quansah, a fellow former Liverpool player. Alex Scott gets the nod for his first international start, while Jordan Pickford returns to guard the net. On the other side, Croatia is led by the ageless Luka Modric, proving that not all 41-year-olds are past their prime. This match-up is sure to be electrifying with Modric at the helm. The Croatian lineup includes Livaković, Stanišić, Vušković, Gvardiol, Perišić, Modrić, Kovačić, Ivanović, Petar Sučić, Baturina, and Musa, while the bench features Pandur, Kotarski, Smolčić, Šutalo, Kramarić, Vlašić, Pašalić, Jakić, Matanović, Luka Sučić, and Mišić. For England, the starting eleven consists of Pickford, Quansah, Konsa, Guehi, Hall, Anderson, Bellingham, Scott, Saka, Kane, and Gordon, with a substitute list that includes Trafford, Steele, Alexander-Arnold, Chalobah, Ngumoha, Branthwaite, Lewis-Skelly, Rogers, Garner, Calvert-Lewin, Gibbs-White, and Eze. Sven Jablonski from Germany will officiate the match, adding another layer of interest. Today’s game is officially behind closed doors due to Croatia facing sanctions for crowd issues during a previous quarter-final against France. However, UEFA’s rules allow local children under 14 to attend, meaning around 6,000 young fans and their guardians are expected to fill the stands. With an additional 100 England supporters allowed in, the 8,200-seat venue will likely see a crowd close to two-thirds full. This match is a rematch of the infamous 2018 World Cup semi-final, a memory that lingers in the minds of both teams. While England has triumphed in their last three encounters with Croatia, the shadow of that historic match looms large. The anticipation is palpable as the teams gear up for kick-off.