Bellingham and Kane Run Riot as England Thrash Croatia 4-0

England delivered a statement performance in the Nations League, heading into the break with a commanding 4-0 lead over Croatia in Rijeka. Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka all found the net in a first half where Thomas Tuchel's team produced some of its best football in recent memory. The match, part of League A Group 3, pitted together two sides desperate for points after both lost to Spain.

• England dominated from start to finish and reached half-time with a 4-0 advantage in Rijeka.
• Harry Kane opened the scoring after four minutes with a top-corner finish from Bellingham's pass.
• Bellingham, Gordon and Saka completed the rout before the 40th minute.
• The match had an unusual atmosphere as a legal loophole allowed schoolchildren to fill the stands despite a stadium ban for adults.
• England and Croatia are both fighting for second place in the group, currently led by Spain.

Kane and Bellingham Combine to Put England in Control

The scoreboard opened after just four minutes with a move of real quality. Bellingham slid a soft pass into space for Harry Kane and the striker, with typical composure, found the top corner to leave Livakovic with no chance. It was the first major connection between two of England's leaders and an early warning of what was to follow.

Bellingham doubled the lead in the 18th minute. Gordon, lively down the left, cut the ball back and the attacking midfielder needed only a simple finish to score his side's second. The Real Madrid man again showed his ability to arrive from deep and appear at the right moment inside the box.

Gordon Keeps His Scoring Streak Alive for England

The Barcelona winger is in a rich vein of form. In Rijeka he made his third consecutive start of the international break and once again left his mark. Before scoring he had already threatened twice, forcing an excellent save from Livakovic at point-blank range and troubling the goalkeeper with another dangerous effort.

His reward came in the 33rd minute. Quansah whipped in a cross to the far post and Gordon, with a diving header, beat Livakovic emphatically. The attacker had already scored against Spain and repeated the feat against Czech Republic, and in Croatia he confirmed he has become a key piece for Tuchel.

Saka Rounds Off a Stellar England First Half

Bukayo Saka completed the rout in the 40th minute with a play that summed up England's dominance and the understanding between their stars. Bellingham provided the assist and Saka tapped into an empty net. Earlier, the winger had gone close with a header that flew over the bar from a Gordon delivery.

The fourth goal came shortly after a surreal moment at the other end. Mateo Kovacic, after Croatia regained possession in the final third, dribbled through on goal with only Pickford to beat but somehow missed from a yard out. It was an extraordinary miss that encapsulated a miserable afternoon for the hosts.

Relentless Pressing and an Unexpected Atmosphere in Rijeka

Beyond the goals, England excelled with their pressing after losing the ball. During the opening stages, Croatia could not find a way out of their own half and only managed a sustained spell of possession around the half-hour mark with some threat. Pickford, barely involved early on, had to rush off his line to stop a one-on-one with Perisic after a delightful pass from Modric.

The match was scheduled to be played behind closed doors following incidents in previous games, with an exception for around one hundred England supporters. However, a legal loophole created an unusual sight in the stands: hundreds of children attending through school trips brought noise and colour to a stadium otherwise off-limits to adults.

What Is at Stake in League A Group 3

Croatia and England share a group with Spain in League A of the Nations League. Luis de la Fuente's side lead the table and have already beaten both: Croatia fell 4-1 in a match defined by two goals and an assist from Lamine Yamal, while England lost after going 2-1 up and missing a penalty for 3-1 through Kane before Spain's comeback.

With the win in Rijeka, England strengthen their bid for second place, which secures passage to the next stage. Croatia, meanwhile, will have another chance to respond when they face Spain on Tuesday at 20:45 local time.