England demolish Croatia 7-0 as Kane, Saka and Bellingham run riot in Rijeka

England produced their highest-ever score against Croatia, crushing the hosts 7-0 in Rijeka on Saturday in UEFA Nations League League A action, with Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka and Jude Bellingham all among the goals under Thomas Tuchel.

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-left corner. It was the first of two goals for the Bayern Munich striker, taking his England record to 89 international goals. Bellingham added a second by poking home Anthony Gordon’s cross midway through the first half, before Gordon himself headed in from Jarell Quansah’s right-wing delivery. Bukayo Saka side-footed in England’s fourth approaching half-time.

The second half brought more of the same. Elliot Anderson’s cross from the right found Kane sliding in at the back post for a poacher’s finish, before Kane then set up Saka for his second in the 68th minute after Croatia failed to clear. Substitute Morgan Rogers completed the rout, controlling Bellingham’s pass with his heel and slotting in from an angle.

The result surpassed England’s previous best against Croatia — a 5-1 win in World Cup qualifying at Wembley in 2009 — and moved Tuchel’s side onto six points from three Nations League games.

“It was very impressive, and we created so many chances. In the first 40 minutes we were so fluid right from the start. It just never stopped,” Tuchel said. “We just kept the pace up and played through the gaps. We were very, very clinical.”

Kane echoed his manager’s assessment of a dominant display. “We’re at our best when we’re free, when we’re physically just overpowering,” he said. “They couldn’t live with our pace, our movement, our runs.”

For Croatia coach Slaven Bilić, the result compounded a miserable week. His side had already suffered a 4-1 defeat in Spain on Tuesday, and have now conceded 12 goals across three Nations League matches. A frustrated Luka Modric started the game in his home country but could do little to stem the tide as Croatia’s defence was repeatedly carved open.