England’s 7-0 demolition of Croatia in Rijeka was far more than a scoreline. It was a statement of control, confidence and tactical sharpness, with Jude Bellingham again at the heart of everything that made Thomas Tuchel’s side look so convincing. Against a backdrop of controversy over the crowd and the sanction loophole, England produced the kind of performance that felt both ruthless and repeatable.
England make a forceful statement in Rijeka
The atmosphere in Croatia was unusual, even surreal. The match was officially closed to adult fans as part of a punishment for racist abuse and far-right behaviour, yet the stands were filled with children and handlers, creating a scene that sent a confusing message and did little to address the underlying issue. England, though, refused to be distracted.
From the first whistle, they played with intensity, speed and precision. Their pressing was aggressive, their passing was crisp, and their movement off the ball made Croatia look stretched and uncertain. This was not a chaotic win built on moments; it was a structured, high-grade performance from start to finish.
Quick start sets the tone
England were ahead after just seven minutes. Alex Scott drove forward, Bellingham slipped a clever pass through, and Harry Kane finished with power and accuracy to give England an early lead. That goal established the rhythm of the night and immediately put Croatia under pressure.
Tuchel’s midfield structure stood out throughout the game. Scott, Elliot Anderson and Bellingham gave England a blend of energy, control and forward thrust that kept Croatia pinned back. They looked compact without the ball and inventive when possession turned over.
Bellingham dominates as England run away with it
By the 20-minute mark, England were 2-0 up. Anthony Gordon created the opening, and Bellingham finished with the kind of ease that has become a theme of his international form. It was his eighth goal in his last eight England appearances, a remarkable run that underlines how central he has become to this side.
England’s third came on 38 minutes when Gordon headed in a whipped cross from Jarell Quansah. The fourth arrived just before half-time and summed up the night perfectly: Bellingham sprinted back 80 metres to win the ball, then drove forward before crossing for Bukayo Saka to tap in. It was a goal that captured England’s hunger and their control in transition.
That sequence also showed why this performance mattered so much. England did not just finish chances. They hunted the ball, recovered possession quickly and turned defence into attack with real conviction.
Harry Kane and Saka keep the pressure on
The second half brought more of the same. Luka Modric’s appearance felt poignant in the context of the scoreline, but Croatia had no real answer to England’s pace and structure. Kane added his second after a good delivery from Anderson, and Saka scored again after Kane helped build the move. By the end, the 7-0 scoreline did not even feel excessive.
England’s attacking threat was matched by their balance out of possession. Croatia were smothered in key areas and rarely allowed to build sustained pressure. The visitors looked united, disciplined and technically superior across the pitch.
| Key Stat | Figure |
|---|---|
| Final Score | England 7-0 Croatia |
| Harry Kane goals | 2 |
| Jude Bellingham goals | 1 |
| Bellingham scoring run | 8 goals in 8 England games |
| England lead at half-time | 4-0 |
What this means for England
This was the kind of performance England have often promised but not always delivered. It had tempo, balance and control, and it carried the feeling of a team growing into a more complete version of itself. The combination of Bellingham and Kane, with the support of Gordon, Saka and the midfield engine behind them, gave England a look of real authority.
One assessment from the night summed it up neatly: “A balanced, focused England team with Bellingham and Kane is a serious proposition.” That may sound obvious after a 7-0 win, but the wider significance is that England looked capable of repeating this level rather than simply enjoying a one-off surge.
There is also a broader lesson from the occasion. Football’s governing bodies cannot treat anti-racism sanctions as a box-ticking exercise. The use of children to fill a banned stand may have softened the optics, but it did not solve the problem or send a strong enough message. The football on the pitch, however, sent a far clearer signal: England are moving forward with purpose.
Jude Bellingham leads the way again
Bellingham was once more the standout figure, not only because of the goal and assist but because of his presence across the pitch. He linked play, recovered possession and kept England moving at speed. In games like this, he does not merely influence outcomes; he changes the entire rhythm of the team.
Croatia, to their credit, have often been difficult opponents, but here they were overwhelmed. England’s intensity was too much, their technique too clean and their finishing too sharp. For Tuchel, this was more than a comfortable win. It was a glimpse of an England side with genuine ceiling height.
After the controversy surrounding the stadium setup, the football itself ended up providing the decisive answer. England were excellent, Croatia were exposed, and Bellingham once again looked like the player around whom elite international teams can be built.
