England thrashed Croatia 7-0 in Rijeka on Saturday in the UEFA Nations League, inflicting the heaviest defeat in Croatia's history. Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka each scored twice, with Anthony Gordon and substitute Morgan Rogers also on target. Jude Bellingham scored once and set up three more goals in a performance captain Kane called "unbelievable from start to finish".
England were ahead after about eight minutes, when Josko Gvardiol lost possession and Bellingham released Kane, who slipped between two defenders to score. Bellingham made it 2-0 in the 21st minute after Gordon turned a Saka cross back across goal. Gordon added a third in the 39th minute, meeting a cross from Jarell Quansah, and Saka made it four a minute before the break after another Bellingham delivery. Croatia had briefly threatened late in the first half, but Mateo Kovacic missed a close-range chance. After the interval, Kane scored again from an Elliot Anderson cross, Saka profited from a misplaced pass by Josip Stanisic, and Rogers finished from a Bellingham through ball three minutes from time. Few fans were in the stadium, as a UEFA sanction meant it was filled almost entirely with children.
The result also took Kane to 89 international goals in 124 appearances, leaving him one cap short of goalkeeper Peter Shilton's England record of 125. England face the Czech Republic on Tuesday, where Kane could draw level, though he joked that manager Thomas Tuchel substitutes him to "save me for the next one". "They couldn't live with our pace, with our runs," Kane said.
In the same group, Spain, the world and European champions, stayed perfect with a 3-1 win over the Czech Republic in Oviedo, despite nine changes by coach Luis de la Fuente. Lamine Yamal opened the scoring with a curling shot, Rodri added a second, and Mikel Merino sealed the win after Jiri Slama had pulled one back and Ladislav Krejci was sent off for a second booking. Spain lead the group on nine points, England have six, Croatia three and the Czechs none. Spain had also beaten England 3-2 at Wembley earlier in this international window.
Elsewhere, in League B, Switzerland came from behind to beat Slovenia 2-1 in Luzern, helped by an own goal from Erik Janza and a strike from Dan Ndoye, and lead Group One on nine points. Scotland won 2-0 away at North Macedonia through Kieron Bowie and John McGinn, despite Scott McKenna's late red card, and sit level with Slovenia on four points.
The heavy loss is a notable setback for a Croatia side that reached the semi-finals of the last two World Cups, while England's display shows their attacking depth under Tuchel.