Croatia vs England: kick-off time, TV channel and how the Nations League clash stacks up amid the Man City case

Croatia and England face off in Rijeka this Friday for the third round of Group A3 in the Nations League, with both teams level on three points after two matches. The battle for second place, which grants direct entry to the quarter-finals, gives the meeting extra weight as Spain set the pace with a perfect six points. Neither side can afford to slip if they want to stay alive in the race.

• Croatia and England have three points from two games and trail leaders Spain, who have six.
• The match in Rijeka will be played behind closed doors due to a Croatian fan sanction, though around 6,000 invited children are expected.
• The Premier League's verdict against Manchester City over financial breaches has reached the England camp.
• Gvardiol and Kovacic represent City for Croatia, while Elliot Anderson and Guéhi do so for England.
• Thomas Tuchel hinted at rotation with four games in eleven days, and Anthony Gordon could start on the bench.

What Croatia and England need from their third Nations League match

Group A3 has established an early hierarchy. Spain lead with six points, leaving Croatia and England in a direct fight for the runner-up spot, which also leads to the quarter-finals. With three points each, the game in Rijeka carries serious stakes: the winner moves closer to progression while the loser faces an uphill struggle in the remaining fixtures.

The schedule adds another layer of difficulty. Both national teams are navigating a demanding window with four matches in eleven days, forcing coaches to manage workloads carefully. Slaven Bilic and Thomas Tuchel will have to decide how far to push their key players in such a demanding encounter.

How the Manchester City case has entered the England dressing room

The Premier League's ruling against Manchester City for financial breaches has shaken English football and found its way into the Three Lions camp. Thomas Tuchel admitted the subject came up among the players during their downtime, and that he spoke briefly with the club's representatives to make sure they remained focused on the match.

We had some free time between games and it's an important topic. Of course, the players talk about it. The City players talk about it. We speak with them, but only briefly. They are ready to play.

The German coach named Elliot Anderson and Anthony Gordon as players carrying a heavy physical load. In Gordon's case, that workload could mean a bench role despite his strong form, with the Barcelona winger having scored against Spain and again in Prague.

The four Manchester City players involved in Croatia vs England

The match brings together four Manchester City representatives on the pitch. Croatia feature two regulars from the club: Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic. On the English side, Elliot Anderson and Marc Guéhi are involved after Nico O'Reilly left the squad with a minor issue having missed Tuesday's 0-2 win over the Czech Republic in Prague.

Their presence adds an extra layer to the contest, especially in a week where their club dominates headlines for off-field reasons. How they perform in Rijeka will offer a measure of whether the controversy affects those directly involved.

An empty stadium with invited schoolchildren and a Gordon-Livakovic reunion

The game takes place behind closed doors following racist behaviour by a section of the Croatian supporters during the first leg of last season's Nations League quarter-finals against France in March 2025. UEFA sanctioned the Balkan side with a match without fans, although European rules allow entry for children under a certain age. Around 6,000 schoolchildren invited by the Croatian Football Federation are expected in Rijeka.

On the pitch there is a Barcelona-flavoured subplot. Anthony Gordon, the winger for the Catalan club, may not start and could face his club teammate Dominik Livakovic, Croatia's goalkeeper, during the match. The two already met in the group stage of the last World Cup, when England won 4-2, though the keeper had not yet joined the blaugrana ranks.

Modric returns to lead Croatia after resting against Spain

Slaven Bilic welcomes back Luka Modric, who was a substitute against Spain on Tuesday. At 41, the Croatian captain remains the team's guiding light, and his presence in midfield will bring the composure and authority Croatia need against a side of England's quality.

We want to see if this group of players can compete against the best. We have to be compact and brave.

The Croatian coach expects his side to remain defensively solid and to lean on Modric's experience to control the tempo against a Three Lions team under pressure to win and avoid further trouble in the group.

Frequently asked questions about Croatia vs England in the Nations League