England routed Croatia 7-0 in the Nations League. Harry Kane scored twice to extend his national scoring record to 89 goals.
England demolished Croatia 7-0 away in the UEFA Nations League on Saturday, handing Slaven Bilic’s side their heaviest-ever defeat and eclipsing England’s previous best result against Croatia, a 5-1 win in 2009 World Cup qualifying. Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka each scored twice, with Jude Bellingham, Anthony Gordon and Morgan Rogers also finding the net at Stadion HNK Rijeka.
Kane opened the scoring in the eighth minute, controlling a Bellingham pass with the outside of his right foot before curling the ball into the top corner, his 88th international goal. Gordon headed in a Jarell Quansah cross for his fourth goal in four England matches to make it three goals in three games, and Saka side-footed home England’s fourth just before halftime after another Bellingham assist, giving Thomas Tuchel’s side a commanding 4-0 lead at the break. Croatia nearly reduced the deficit when Manchester City’s Mateo Kovacic danced past three challenges but shot wide from six yards with the goal gaping.
England showed no mercy after the restart. Kane slid in to convert an Anderson cross in the 53rd minute for his second of the night, extending his national-team scoring record to 89 goals and becoming the first player to score 10 or more goals for England in three different calendar years. Saka added his second in the 68th minute after a Croatia defensive error, and Morgan Rogers completed the rout late on. “I think it sends a message to the rest of Europe,” Kane said after the match, as England moved to two wins from three matches in their Nations League group, chasing a top-two finish to reach the quarterfinals. England close out the international break against the Czech Republic at Wembley on Tuesday.
This report is based on information from Al Jazeera, ESPN, the Associated Press (via WRAL and ABC News) and Sports Mole.