Key events
Jacob Steinberg was our man in Rijeka tonight. Here’s his report on a record-breaking night for England. Thanks for reading this MBM.
A delighted Thomas Tuchel talks to ITV. “Maybe apart from three minutes after the 3-0 … a big mistake and some easy ball losses … [beams cheekily] … but there was a 90-minute performance from the highest level … from everyone … from the first until the last minute … congratulations to the team … very, very impressive … we created so many chances … so fluid right from the start … it never stopped … very clinical … stayed hungry … counter-pressing … the basics right … we always played humble … that’s why it was a complete performance.”
Alex Scott speaks to ITV. “No better feeling … to start with a win like that is amazing … the lads we’ve got in the front line are pretty deadly … we wanted to push Croatia as hard as possible and we did that today … pressing high … winning the ball back … being ruthless in the final third … [Harry Kane] is unbelievable … I’ve been watching him since I was a little boy … up close you can really see his level … it’s frightening the talent we’ve got … we’ve got to build now … go again … another three points would be nice!”
Post-match postbag. “Maybe the Croatian team should also have been restricted to the kids. Not sure it’d have gone any worse than this to be honest” – David Howell
“This result reminds me of Germany 1-5 England. Do we know when the Netflix series will come out?” – Steven Grundy
“Croatian newspaper headline for tomorrow: National team edged out by England in seven-goal thriller” – Phil West
“I mean, I’ve been fairly critical of both Modric and Ronaldo tonight, but when I think of what I was up to at 41 regarding professional football, they’re doing ok. Though neither of them have ever been published on the MBM, so you know, I think I know who the real winner is” – Simon McMahon
Harry Kane, who will win a record-equalling 125th England cap against Czechia on Tuesday, talks to ITV. “Unbelievable from start to finish … we have spoken a lot about having a 90-minute game … completely dominant both with and without the ball … that was it right there … we’re at our best when we’re physically overpowering … they couldn’t live with our pace, power and runs … there’s freedom … it’s so hard for the opposition to pick it up … we are all good enough and smart enough … every man was at the highest level … it was an important game … beautiful weather … an amazing hotel … we could have easily fallen into holiday mode … to put in that performance is the perfect end to the week … I’ll be ready to start again on Tuesday.”
Bukayo Saka speaks to ITV. “It was an amazing night for us … we came out from the start on top … high energy … we punished them … we enjoyed that performance … it was special … really fun to play … clinical … two goals for England is always a nice feeling … really happy … we showed hunger … passion … quality … a mixture of everything we’re looking for … [Jude Bellingham] was amazing tonight … he was special … happy to play with him … [Anthony Gordon is] another player who is also on fire in an England shirt … there are still three games left … a massive boost and momentum!”
This is how Group A3 of the Nations League stands for now. Spain host the Czechs later this evening.
1. England P3 GD+8 Pts 6
2. Spain P2 GD+4 Pts 6
3. Croatia P3 GD-9 Pts 3
4. Czechia P2 GD-3 Pts 0
That’s Croatia’s heaviest-ever defeat, England going one better than Spain did in a 2018 Nations League match. Spain were at home for that one, mind. Croatia’s previous worst performance at home was a 4-1 World Cup qualifying loss to England in 2008. And the thing is, it could have been many more. England were rampant from the get-go; Croatia were a total shambles. England simply magnificent; Croatia staggeringly inept. One thing feeds into another, but both statements remain true. Jude Bellingham ran the show, but then so did Anthony Gordon, Elliot Anderson and Bukayo Saka. A memorable night in Rijeka for so many reasons!
FULL TIME: Croatia 0-7 England
Child’s play for England.
90 min +1: … and in the first, Croatia get their first attempt on target, a Perišić pea-roller that Pickford deals with easily.
90 min: There will be two additional minutes …
89 min: Vlašić flaps a shot into the side netting. Up the other end, Eze tries to lob Livaković.
88 min: Croatia’s previous worst defeat at home? England have written themselves out of, then back into, the record books.
GOAL! Croatia 0-7 England (Rogers 87)
A simple long pass down the middle releases Rogers, who rounds Livaković on the left then slots. Easy as that.
86 min: …. though Gordon, Saka and Anderson all have strong claims too.
85 min: Bellingham grooves his way down the inside-left channel but can’t sort his feet out to get a shot away from a tight-ish angle. He’s almost certainly going to get the player-of-the-match award nonetheless.
83 min: Matanović goes over Konsa’s leg in the England box, and demands a penalty, but he’s never getting one. The kids boo in the pantomime style … but then the camera cuts to the crowd, and there are a lot of excited, smiling faces. Lovely to see them waving into the lens, very much enjoying themselves and their night out, despite the scoreline.
81 min: Gibbs-White advances down the right but his cross is cut out by Šutalo. England are still searching for number seven, though the slew of subs has slightly compromised their rhythm.
79 min: Hall and Anderson are replaced by Lewis-Skelly and Gibbs-White.
78 min: Eze slips Rogers into the Croatian box down the left. Rogers is clipped but doesn’t go over. Had he flopped, the referee might have had a decision to make. Though the referee might have shown Croatia some mercy, also.
77 min: Anderson’s corner is not all that. Croatia clear their lines without fuss, which is not a phrase I’ve been able to deploy too often this evening.
76 min: Bellingham nearly releases Saka down the inside-right channel with a silky back-flick. Then another phase of attack, and Bellingham’s low shot is deflected wide left for a corner. Before it can be taken, Stanišić is replaced by Šutalo.
74 min: Eze races down the right and should release Rogers with a through ball, but takes one touch too many and clanks into the nearest defender.
73 min: Now it’s Kovačić’s turn to have his say, and into the book he goes.
72 min: Hall slips Rogers into space down the left. Rogers crosses low to tee up Saka, who somehow skies over the bar from close range. Perišić probably put him off, sliding into view.
70 min: Slaven Bilic is booked for telling it as he sees it.
69 min: Kane won’t get his sixth hat-trick tonight. Just the two will do! He’s replaced by Eze, while Rogers and Garner come on for Scott and Gordon.
GOAL! Croatia 0-6 England (Saka 68)
Stanišić plays a dreadful ball across the face of his own box from the left. Saka intercepts and lays off to Kane, who has the chance to complete that hat-trick … but unselfishly gives the ball back to Saka, who lashes home. Oh Croatia.
67 min: If Kane does manage to complete that sixth hat-trick, he’d equal the record held by the great Jimmy Greaves. There is no better company for a striker to keep.
66 min: Gordon romps down the left yet again. He looks for Kane in the middle with a low cross. Gvardiol slides in to intercept. He had to, or Kane was completing his sixth hat-trick for England.
64 min: The only black mark against England tonight? Pickford has been a wee bit jittery on a couple of occasions. But nothing majorly dramatic, and in any case, it’s too late to change his eccentricities now.
62 min: … which Pickford claims. His attempt to release Gordon on the counter is blocked, and Pašalić scuffs a shot before falling over backwards in the slapstick style. Croatia finding new ways to humilate themselves.
61 min: Matanović has another pop from distance. This time his effort is deflected wide left, and here comes Croatia’s first corner of the game …
