Tuchel: England's 7-0 Croatia Rout Buries World Cup Pain

England deliver a statement in Rijeka

Thomas Tuchel believes England have finally moved on from their World Cup disappointment after watching his side dismantle Croatia 7-0 in Rijeka — handing the hosts their biggest ever defeat. According to reports from the match, the England manager described the result as the way forward for a squad still carrying the scars of past tournament setbacks.

The game at Stadion HNK Rijeka was supposed to be played behind closed doors after Croatia were punished by Uefa for racist and discriminatory fan behaviour last year. Instead, 6,200 local schoolchildren were allowed in free of charge, creating an unexpected atmosphere for a fixture that England controlled from start to finish.

Tuchel was delighted with how his front four combined to devastating effect, a performance he framed as evidence that his players have used this extended international break to consign their World Cup woes to history. “We’ll always have a scar, but this is how we move forward,” Tuchel said, adding that the “dominant performance is the way to move on.”

Kane and Saka double up as Bellingham makes history

Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka each scored twice, while Jude Bellingham became the first midfielder to register four goal involvements in a game since David Platt against San Marino in 1993. Anthony Gordon and Morgan Rogers were also on the scoresheet, underlining the depth and variety in England’s attacking play.

The spread of scorers will be particularly encouraging for Tuchel, who saw his front line rotate and combine with a fluency that Croatia simply could not handle. Bellingham’s four involvements stand out as a historic individual landmark, placing him alongside Platt in the record books for England midfielders.

Tuchel also reserved praise for Scott, who he described as the “complete package” after a full debut. The manager’s willingness to hand opportunities to new faces in such a demanding away fixture suggests he is building towards next year’s finals with an eye on both form and freshness.

What the result means for England’s path

England now have a firm grip on second place in their Nations League group and, according to reports, are confident of reaching next year’s finals. The victory in Rijeka therefore carries dual significance: it strengthens their position in the current campaign while also serving as a psychological reset after the World Cup.

The manner of the win — seven goals, multiple scorers, a historic midfield milestone — gives Tuchel a platform to argue that his side have turned a corner. For a squad that has been questioned for its ability to deliver in big moments, a rout of Croatia’s magnitude is a powerful counter-argument.

Croatia, meanwhile, will have to regroup after a night that set an unwanted record. The decision to admit schoolchildren free of charge added a surreal backdrop to a heavy defeat, but it was England’s ruthlessness that defined the evening.

With the international break now behind them, England return to domestic action before reconvening for the next round of fixtures. Tuchel’s challenge will be to ensure this performance becomes a benchmark rather than an outlier. The Premier League predictions picture may dominate club focus in the coming weeks, but for England the bigger prize remains next year’s finals.

For those tracking the international landscape, the result adds another layer to the Champions League predictions debate about how Europe’s top nations are shaping up. England’s front four, on this evidence, will be a handful for anyone.

Tuchel’s message was clear: the scar remains, but the response has been emphatic. Whether that translates into tournament success is the question that will define his tenure — but in Rijeka, England looked like a team ready to move forward. For the latest latest football news and analysis, keep checking back.