Croatia’s worst defeat had been 6-0, and England beat them 7-0 in Rijeka

Croatia had never lost a game by more than six goals since independence. England beat them 7-0 in Rijeka on Saturday night, 3 October, with Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka scoring twice each, and Luka Modric said afterwards it was the first time in 20 years with the national team that he had felt ashamed after a match.

The old record was the 6-0 defeat to Spain in September 2018, less than two months after Croatia played in the World Cup final in Moscow. This one came in front of a crowd made up mostly of schoolchildren, because UEFA had shut Croatia’s own supporters out of the ground.

Four by half-time

Kane needed eight minutes. Jude Bellingham slid him through and the England captain put it high into the net. Bellingham scored the second himself on 21 minutes, stabbing in from close range after Anthony Gordon kept a deep cross alive.

Gordon got his own goal in the 39th minute, stooping to head in Jarell Quansah’s cross at the back post. Croatia’s one real chance of the half fell to Mateo Kovacic, who shot wide from six yards with the goal open in front of him. Saka punished that just before the break, left unmarked in the box on a quick counter and finishing Bellingham’s pass for 4-0.

There was no Croatian response after the break. Elliot Anderson crossed for Kane to slide in his second at the back post eight minutes into the half, and Saka picked up a loose pass on 68 minutes and beat Dominik Livakovic from a tight angle. Morgan Rogers, on as a substitute, ran on to a long ball from Bellingham and finished three minutes from time.

Bellingham ended the night with a goal and three assists. Alex Scott made his first England start.

What Tuchel and Modric said

Thomas Tuchel called it “a complete performance over 90 minutes,” and he tied it back to what is still hurting from the summer. “You have to play with the pain if you still feel the disappointment, you have to play with it, that is the nature of sport,” he said.

The other dressing room was a different place. Modric did not hide behind the scoreline. “You can lose, or play against an opponent who is better, and they are right now,” he said. “But in any case, losing like this and squandering the reputation we’ve built over the years is unacceptable.”

Slaven Bilic, back in charge since the summer, took it on himself. “Since taking over this summer, there have been issues, there certainly have. But the responsibility is mine,” he said. “I feel for the kids who were there,” he added.

The group after three games

Croatia have now let in 12 goals in three Nations League games. They beat Czechia 2-1 in Prague, lost 4-1 to Spain in Seville and then this.

Spain stay top of League A Group 3 with nine points after a 3-1 win over Czechia in Oviedo on the same night. England are second on six, Croatia third on three and Czechia still have none. England host Czechia next, and Croatia play Spain.

Catch up on the rest of the Nations League week