England Runs Riot: Kane and Saka Shine in Historic 7-0 Victory Over Croatia

The atmosphere at Stadion HNK Rijeka was electric, reminiscent of a pop concert, but England was ready to put on a show. A youthful crowd of 6,200 Croatian under-14s enjoyed the match for free, but for them, it was a harsh lesson as England dismantled Croatia, securing a crucial second place in their Nations League group and enhancing their chances of advancing to the quarter-finals. This was a tough evening for the locals, but Thomas Tuchel couldn't have been happier. This was England's most dominant performance since their World Cup triumph over Croatia, with Harry Kane celebrating his 124th cap by scoring twice, bringing his international tally to 89. Jude Bellingham shone brightly, contributing three assists and a goal, while the entire attacking unit fired on all cylinders. Everything fell into place for England against a Croatian side ranked 12th in the world. They could have easily racked up double digits, but settled for seven instead. Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka were in spectacular form on the wings, while Alex Scott, making a standout full debut, showcased his skills and tenacity, leaving fans wondering if he should have been included in the World Cup squad. Scott delivered a breathtaking pass to Gordon, a clear indication of his potential to be a mainstay in the England setup. It was only Gordon’s second cap, but Tuchel's confidence in Scott was evident, especially as he matched up against the legendary Luka Modric, who is past his prime. This match felt worlds apart from their previous encounter here in 2018, which was played in front of empty stands due to sanctions against Croatia for fan misconduct. UEFA allowed local children to attend, and the high-pitched cheers from the young supporters reminded everyone that many of them were not even born when Modric first played against England. Tuchel understood the advantage of youth. While Modric is now 41, Scott and Elliot Anderson, who dominated in their Under-21 European Championship win last year, were a breath of fresh air. Bellingham, back in the lineup after a rest, was relentless, even assisting Morgan Rogers for the seventh goal late in the game. Fans were reminded of the previous World Cup meeting, where England struggled defensively before finding their rhythm. This time, they were dominant from the start, with Bellingham pushing Modric aside as if he were a rookie. England pressed hard, and by the 21st minute, Bellingham struck, converting after Gordon played a perfect ball into the box from Saka’s cross. The Croatian fans, mostly children, could only watch in dismay as England celebrated. It’s amusing to think there was a time when Kane and Bellingham rarely connected, but those days are long gone. Gordon was a constant threat on the left, linking up well with Lewis Hall, and he's now been involved in a goal or assist in his last seven appearances. England made it 3-0 when Jarell Quansah, one of five changes made by Tuchel, delivered a pinpoint cross that Gordon headed past the Croatian keeper, Dominik Livakovic. Quansah was brought in for Trent Alexander-Arnold, and his performance was a statement in response to critics of his crossing. Jordan Pickford retained his spot in goal, making a crucial save early on to deny Ivan Perisic, keeping England ahead when it mattered most. However, there was a brief moment of concern when a mistake from Anderson allowed Kovacic a chance, but he squandered it. England quickly struck back before halftime. Kane dropped deeper to initiate a counter, leading to Bellingham setting up Saka to score, bringing the score to 4-0. The small contingent of England fans in attendance were loving every minute. As the second half unfolded, the onslaught continued. Anderson’s run down the right led to a cross for Kane, who added to the tally. Croatia, suffering their heaviest defeat in history, soon withdrew Modric from the fray, signaling the evening belonged to England. Kane assisted Saka for the sixth goal, and with his next appearance, he will equal Peter Shilton's record for most caps. At 33, he shows no signs of slowing down.