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England Thrash Croatia 7-0, Reviving Quarterfinal Hopes

By Drooid · Oct 6, 2026, 10:49 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

England Crush Croatia

England beat Croatia 7-0 in Rijeka, reviving quarter-final hopes.
Harry Kane earned his 124th cap and scored his 88th and 89th international goals.
Jude Bellingham scored, provided three assists and crossed for Anthony Gordon’s header.
Alex Scott debuted, showing tenacity and creating the chance for Gordon’s goal.
Thomas Tuchel reinstated Jordan Pickford and started Jarell Quansah, who assisted Gordon’s header.

Summary

Olmo Eyes Split Reunion

Dani Olmo left Barcelona’s La Masia at 16 to join Dinamo Zagreb’s academy.
Croatia’s Football Federation tried to naturalise him before the 2018 World Cup, but he declined.
Olmo made his senior Spain debut versus Malta in November 2019 after rejecting Croatia.
He helped Spain win Euro 2024, the 2026 World Cup and the Nations League.
Fluent in Croatian, Olmo called the upcoming Split match a very special personal reunion.

Summary

De la Fuente Overhauls

Luis de la Fuente introduced nine changes for Spain, noting one day of training between matches.
Ferran Torres, Alejandro Grimaldo, Joan Garcia and Nico Williams remain doubtful with injuries.
Fabian Ruiz left the squad after becoming a first-time father.
Match will air on RTVE PLAY Spain, Prime Video UK and FOX Sports US.
The match will be shown on beIN SPORTS MENA, Sony Sports Network India and DStv South Africa.

History

Historical Context

At the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France, Croatia secured a historic third-place finish, defeating the Netherlands 2-1 in the playoff. Davor Šuker led that squad, scoring six tournament goals and becoming the competition’s top scorer, while the event featured 32 national teams. England’s 7-0 triumph over Croatia in Rijeka echoes that 1998 shock, with Harry Kane earning his 124th cap and Jude Bellingham delivering three assists. Similarly, Spain’s squad overhaul under Luis de la Fuente, featuring Dani Olmo’s rise from Barcelona’s La Masia to Euro glory, signals evolving talent pipelines.

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England Crush Croatia

England beat Croatia 7-0 in Rijeka, reviving quarter-final hopes.
Harry Kane earned his 124th cap and scored his 88th and 89th international goals.
Jude Bellingham scored, provided three assists and crossed for Anthony Gordon’s header.
Alex Scott debuted, showing tenacity and creating the chance for Gordon’s goal.
Thomas Tuchel reinstated Jordan Pickford and started Jarell Quansah, who assisted Gordon’s header.

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