Kane and Saka score twice as England overwhelm Croatia

England recorded a 7-0 Nations League victory over Croatia on Saturday, with Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka scoring twice each in a comprehensive result in Rijeka. The win gave Thomas Tuchel’s side two victories from their first three matches in the group and strengthened their pursuit of a top-two finish, which would secure a place in the Nations League quarter-finals in March. England needed only eight minutes to take the lead.

Alex Scott, making his first start for the national team, helped begin the move with a pass to Jude Bellingham. Bellingham then sent Kane through, and the England captain finished from 10 yards. Bellingham scored England’s second in the 21st minute, before Anthony Gordon made it 3-0 in the 39th.

Saka added a fourth in first-half stoppage time, leaving Croatia with a substantial deficit before the interval. Kane scored again in the 53rd minute. Saka followed with his second goal in the 68th, and Morgan Rogers completed the scoring late in the match.

Bellingham’s display included three assists as well as his goal. Kane’s double took his England total to 89 goals, while Gordon extended his run to four goals in his last four international matches, according to Channels Television. The match was played in unusually subdued surroundings.

Around 6,000 local schoolchildren and 100 England supporters were admitted after crowd trouble involving Croatia supporters against France in 2025 led to a sanction described as being played behind closed doors. England were scheduled to finish the international break against the Czech Republic at Wembley on Tuesday. Spain had six points and a game in hand at the time of England’s victory.