The scoreline was extraordinary, but it was by no means simply a case of ruthless English finishing. England generated 6.14 xG, registered 48 touches in the opposition penalty area and controlled long spells of the match with 64 per cent possession. Croatia still produced 1.37 xG, but failed to convert their few high-quality opportunities and struggled badly with the visitors’ pace and intensity.
Tuchel turns to Scott and an attacking front four
Tuchel made five changes from the 2-0 win in Czechia. Jordan Pickford returned in goal, Jarell Quansah started at right-back and Alex Scott made his first senior start alongside Elliot Anderson. Bellingham played behind Kane, with Gordon and Saka operating from the flanks.
England lined up in a 4-2-3-1 that became highly fluid in possession. Scott and Anderson brought energy through the middle, while Bellingham constantly looked for space between Croatia’s midfield and defence. Gordon and Saka initially held the width before repeatedly making diagonal runs into the penalty area.
Croatia also made significant changes following their 4-1 defeat to Spain. Slaven Bilić nominally opted for a 4-1-4-1, with Luka Modrić in front of the defence and Mateo Kovačić and Petar Sučić operating higher up. The idea of controlling the game through a technically strong midfield, however, quickly fell apart.
Kane sparks England’s onslaught
The opening goal arrived as early as the eighth minute. After an inaccurate pass from Joško Gvardiol, England recovered possession, Bellingham immediately turned forward and released Kane between the centre-backs. The captain finished powerfully to give the visitors an early lead.
Croatia then found few ways to play cleanly through England’s pressure. Modrić was closed down early, while Scott and Anderson narrowed the passing lanes through central areas. Whenever possession changed hands, England attacked quickly.
The second goal in the 21st minute showed that England were not relying purely on transitions. A patient 27-pass move ended with Gordon, who controlled a difficult ball before drilling it across the six-yard box. Bellingham arrived from deep and finished from close range.
Gordon and Saka put the game beyond Croatia before half-time
Croatia also struggled to contain England in wide areas. Gordon repeatedly attacked the space behind Josip Stanišić, while Quansah pushed high on the right. In the 39th minute, the defender delivered an accurate cross to the far post, where Gordon headed in for 3-0.
Croatia then had a huge chance to pull one back. After an English mistake, Kovačić went clean through on Pickford, rounded the goalkeeper and somehow sent his effort wide of the empty net. That opportunity accounted for a significant part of Croatia’s overall xG figure.
England punished the miss before the interval. Kane initiated the move, Bellingham received the ball on the left and played a precise pass into the middle, where Saka had the simple task of converting from close range to make it 4-0.
Three changes fail to steady Croatia
Bilić responded at half-time with three substitutions, introducing Igor Matanović, Mario Pašalić and Nikola Vlašić. Croatia wanted to defend more aggressively and add greater presence in midfield, but the changes failed to alter the direction of the contest.
The fifth goal arrived in the 53rd minute. Saka and Anderson combined down the right before Anderson drove a low ball into the area, where Kane finished from close range. It was the Bayern striker’s second goal of the night and his 89th for England.
By then the outcome was no longer in doubt. Croatia still pushed bodies forward when in possession, however, leaving further spaces for England to exploit.
Saka punishes another costly mistake
The sixth goal in the 68th minute summed up Croatia’s evening. Stanišić played a poor pass inside his own penalty area straight towards Saka. The Arsenal winger exchanged passes with Kane before curling a right-footed finish into the far corner.
Bellingham stood out even among England’s two-goal scorers. The attacking midfielder scored once, provided three assists and repeatedly found space behind Croatia’s midfield line.
Scott also impressed on his first senior start. The 22-year-old played forward with confidence under pressure, contributed defensively and, together with Anderson, gave England far more running power through central areas.
Rogers completed the rout in the 87th minute. Bellingham split the final line with a pass to the substitute, who rounded Livaković before rolling the ball into the empty net for 7-0.
Why the scoreline became so extreme
The numbers go some way towards explaining the extraordinary margin. England led the shot count 19-12, registered 48 touches in the penalty area compared with Croatia’s 17 and finished with 6.14 xG. Croatia’s 1.37 xG also shows that the hosts had opportunities of their own, but unlike England they failed to take them.
The key difference was the quality of the chances. Croatia repeatedly lost possession in dangerous areas and were poorly protected after those mistakes, allowing England to attack an unbalanced defence at speed.
Tuchel’s side also varied their attacking patterns superbly. Some chances came from early recoveries, others from longer passing sequences, while midfield runners repeatedly broke beyond Croatia’s last line. The hosts never found a convincing answer to those different threats.
England produce their best display under Tuchel
For England, the 7-0 was their most convincing performance yet under Tuchel. The visitors not only controlled the game, but also created an exceptional number of clear-cut chances and maintained their intensity even with the result long since decided.
Croatia, meanwhile, will have to examine both their defensive organisation and their rest defence in possession. The midfield failed to track England’s runners, while individual errors made the situation even worse.
Tuchel’s side host Czechia at Wembley on Tuesday. Croatia face Spain on the same evening and will already be under considerable pressure to produce a response.
