Historic: "Three Lions" rout Croatia

On the third matchday of Group A3 in the UEFA Nations League, England secured a 7-0 away victory against Croatia. It marks Croatia's heaviest defeat in history, surpassing a 0-6 loss in Spain in 2018.

Due to a UEFA sanction, only 6,000 spectators attended the match, mostly schoolchildren and their chaperones.

The "Three Lions" took the lead as early as the 8th minute. After a mispass from Josko Gvardiol, Marc Guehi immediately initiated the counter-attack.

Jude Bellingham played a through ball to Harry Kane, who ran into the box, and the England captain powerfully struck it into the top left corner.

Croatia without a chance already in the first half

In the 21st minute, Anthony Gordon was able to comfortably control the ball in the penalty area and pass to the incoming Jude Bellingham. The Real star merely had to push the ball past Livakovic to make it 2-0.

After his assist for the second goal, Gordon now got to celebrate himself. Following a cross from Quansah, the Barcelona-based player headed in unchallenged at the far post to make it 3-0. The usually very strong Livakovic was powerless even for the third conceded goal.

Emblematic was also Croatia's best chance: Mateo Kovacic won the ball at the edge of the box, dribbled through the penalty area, but failed to hit an empty net with his shot.

In the 44th minute, Bukayo Saka became the fourth English attacking player to get on the scoresheet. Jude Bellingham danced through the Croatian defense and laid off to Saka, who, completely alone, only had to tap the ball over the line.

No turnaround after halftime

After the halftime break, England picked up where they left off. Saka sent Elliot Anderson deep, who then set up Kane at the far post, and the star striker secured his brace (53').

Saka also got to celebrate for a second time. The English aggressively pressed the Croatians in their own half, thus provoking a chip from Josip Stanisic.

Saka was able to chest down the Croatian's chip in the box and, after a one-two with Kane, got himself into a better shooting position. That made it 6-0 (68').

In the 87th minute, Jude Bellingham, with his third assist of the evening, sent Morgan Rodgers through. The Chelsea player rounded Livakovic and effortlessly slotted the ball in for 7-0.

League C Results

In Group C1, Finland won 2-1 against Albania thanks to a brace from Leo Walta (26', 71'). Rey Manaj scored for Albania (4').

In the second Group C1 match, Belarus won 4-0 against San Marino.

Rasmus Peetson's early goal (5') secured Estonia a 1-0 victory over Luxembourg in Group C4.

Iceland remained undefeated in the parallel match. Orri Oskarsson scored a brace in the Icelanders' 3-0 home victory and set up Ellertsson's goal (90').