England delivered arguably their most impressive performance under head coach, Thomas Tuchel, as they produced a devastating attacking display to thrash Croatia 7-0 in their UEFA Nations League match in Rijeka.
In an international match played behind closed doors as a sanction against Croatia supporters for previous bad behaviour, but which was attended by 6,000 schoolchildren and 100 visiting fans, rampant England ran riot to humiliate Slaven Bilic’s side.
Duribg the game on Saturday, England recovered from the opening defeat by Spain at Wembley with a deserved win against the Czech Republic in Prague, but moved on to a different level, destroying Croatia, 108 days after a 4-2 win against the same opposition at the World Cup in Dallas.
Harry Kane put England ahead after eight minutes, ruthlessly punishing a mistake by Manchester City defender Josko Gvardiol by taking Jude Bellingham’s pass in his stride to rifle a finish high past Croatia keeper Dominik Livakovic.
Bellingham scored the second after 21 minutes, finishing from close range after Anthony Gordon did brilliantly to bring Bukayo Saka’s cross under control at the far post.
Gordon added the third himself, his fourth in four games, when he scored with a far post header from Jarell Quansah’s perfect cross.
As England pierced Croatia at will, Saka added the fourth on the stroke of half-time with another simple finish from Bellingham’s delivery.
England did not let up after the break, Kane scoring again eight minutes after the break, sliding in at the far post to turn in Elliot Anderson’s cross.
Croatia were not helping their own cause, more dreadful defending leaving Saka with a simple task to make it 6-0 and substitute Morgan Rogers getting in on the act to give the scoreline an even more emphatic look after rounding Livakovic.