England's front four dazzle as Croatia Fantastic crumble under Tuchel

England stormed to a crushing victory over Croatia in Rijeka, with the front four all finding the net and Thomas Tuchel’s side racing to a 4-0 lead at the break.

First‑half onslaught

The visitors took an early lead as each member of England’s starting attackers scored, giving the hosts a comfortable four‑goal cushion before the interval. The crowd, described as too young, offered little resistance while Croatia’s ageing squad struggled to cope.

Second‑half dominance

Midway through the second period three of the front four added assists, and both Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka doubled their tallies, pushing the score to a record 7‑0 defeat for Croatia, a nation that had reached a World Cup final and semi‑final in the previous decade.

England’s midfield, anchored by a player who has amassed eight goals and five assists in eleven matches since the World Cup began, controlled the tempo, allowing the attackers to flourish.

Harry Kane celebrates record of 125 matches with England

Defensive and goalkeeping notes

Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford was largely untested, spending long periods idle before making a routine save to deny Ivan Perišić. The centre‑backs enjoyed a straightforward night, intervening only for occasional routine clearances.

Full‑back contributions included a cross that set up the fifth goal shortly after half‑time, and a smart forward run that resulted in the fourth goal before the break.

Post‑match reflections

While Croatia’s performance will attract scrutiny, the undeniable truth is England were scintillating from start to finish, with Thomas Tuchel’s tactics allowing the Fantastic Four to dominate the game.