Harry Kane and Anthony Gordon have each scored two goals in England’s first two Nations League games. On Saturday, they take that form to a stadium with no crowd, because UEFA ordered Croatia to play two matches behind closed doors after crowd trouble in last season’s quarter-final against France, and this is the first. The game is at Stadion Rujevica in Rijeka on 3 October 2026, kick-off 17:00 BST.
Form & what’s at stake
England and Croatia both have three points, and both sit behind Spain in Group A3. England lost 2-3 to Spain on 26 September, with Gordon scoring in the 36th minute and Kane in the 40th. They beat Czechia 2-0 on 29 September, with Gordon scoring in the 47th minute and Kane in the 69th, making four goals from two players across two games and a defence that conceded three in one of them. Effective, and slightly fragile.
Croatia beat Czechia 2-1 on 26 September, Luka Modrić scoring in the 47th minute and Marco Pašalić in the 77th. On 29 September they lost 4-1 to Spain, with Beljo scoring their only goal in the 28th minute. Croatia’s goal difference is -2, and England’s is +1.
England won the most recent meeting 4-2 in the group stage of the 2026 World Cup, according to a match preview, while Croatia won the 2018 World Cup semi-final 2-1 and have not forgotten it. History is even. Both sides play again on Tuesday 6 October: England host Czechia, Croatia host Spain.
Team news & injuries
Thomas Tuchel named a 27-man squad for the four-game window, with ten new call-ups after the World Cup, according to Sportbible. John Stones, Reece James, Spence and Jordan Henderson are out injured, while Noni Madueke, Ivan Toney and Ollie Watkins were left out of the group altogether. Trent Alexander-Arnold is in the squad alongside his Real Madrid teammate Jude Bellingham. Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Lewis Hall, Rio Ngumoha, Jarrad Branthwaite, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Alex Scott have all returned to the group.
Croatia have not published an injury list. Modrić was left out of the XI for the Spain game on 29 September, according to Goal, so his role on Saturday remains in the balance until the team sheets appear an hour before kick-off.
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Editorial Score
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Predicted line-ups
No confirmed XI was available at the time of writing.
England: Tuchel has a settled front pair in Kane and Gordon and no reason to break it up. The uncertainty is behind them. With Stones and James out, the back line will look different, and Alexander-Arnold’s place in the squad gives Tuchel another right-back option.
Croatia: Croatia scored in both games and conceded five in two. If Modrić starts, he sets the tempo. If he does not, Croatia lose their best passer against a side that will press.
The key battle
Kane and Gordon against Croatia’s centre-backs. Spain scored four against Croatia on 29 September, and Czechia scored one in the opening game. Kane and Gordon have scored all four of England’s goals. Croatia’s centre-backs have to stop both of them, and England’s own back line has to hold without Stones and James.
Croatia vs England Prediction & tip
Croatia at home would normally be a hard proposition. This one is played in silence, against a side that beat them 4-2 at the World Cup and has two forwards in scoring form; although England’s defence has leaked three goals, Croatia will get their chances, but the visitors’ front line is the more reliable one. England win.
Tip: England win. Predicted score: Croatia 1-2 England.
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