Thomas Tuchel is acutely aware that the painful semi‑final loss to Argentina at the World Cup will linger over him and his squad for years to come, possibly extending beyond the next European Championship in 2028. Yet the emphatic 7‑0 victory over Croatia in Rijeka on Saturday offered a vivid reminder that his project still has momentum. The result was historic: it marked Croatia's heaviest defeat ever, and no visiting side had ever netted more than four goals on Croatian soil.
While the Nations League cannot be equated with the World Cup, and the Croatian team – now a shadow of the golden sides that once dominated Europe – did not present a top‑tier test, England’s "complete" performance, praised by the manager, players and pundits alike, provided a much‑needed boost to confidence. In the preceding matches, England’s positive moments against Spain were marred by defensive lapses, and the win over the Czech Republic was clouded by a first‑half red card. By contrast, the Croatia game was decisive and convincing. The front four operated with electric intensity, while midfielders Elliot Anderson and debutant Alex Scott imposed themselves against far more experienced opponents.
Croatia’s Mateo Kovačić missed a clear chance at 3‑0, but the hosts were otherwise limited to sporadic attempts, as England’s full‑backs spent more time creating opportunities than defending. Rob Dorsett of Sky Sports summed up the spectacle: "When England are rampaging all over the pitch like this, winning back possession when they have no right to do so, passing forward at every opportunity and finishing ruthlessly, there is no better team in world football to watch." The manager echoed this sentiment, describing the win as "fantastic" and highlighting the "speed, technical quality and hunger off the ball" as being at the highest level from kickoff to the final whistle.
Tuchel used his first post‑World Cup press conference to stress that the summer tournament had forged a brotherhood among the players, an experience he believes will be vital for future success. At the time, many English supporters were still uneasy about his tactical choices against Argentina and his criticism of the players' "DNA".
However, in Rijeka there were clear signs that the bonds formed in North America were beginning to translate into on‑field cohesion. "I just believe we have now a lot of experience together," Tuchel explained when asked why the team clicked against Croatia.
"We had a qualifying campaign together, we had a big tournament together, we have big positive emotions together, we lived through them together, we had big pain together. We just get to know each other better, know the players better and know what to demand and how to motivate.
It was a good spirit from the start of the camp and it's nice to see that it builds up. It was a day where every puzzle piece fell into place." Looking ahead, Tuchel cautioned that the upcoming match against the Czech Republic at Wembley will pose a different kind of challenge and warned fans against expecting another seven‑goal onslaught. Nevertheless, the 7‑0 thrashing has set a high bar for excitement, and the next Nations League fixture now carries added intrigue.
The true test will arrive on November 15 when England travel to face world champions Spain in Madrid. That encounter will likely determine whether the optimism surrounding Tuchel’s tenure is justified, as a strong performance could cement England’s place in the Nations League quarter‑finals and signal genuine progress toward future glory. A win in Spain would not only boost morale but also serve as a litmus test for the lessons learned from past failures.
It will shape the narrative for the winter months, influencing perceptions of England’s ability to compete and triumph on football's biggest stages. For the moment, however, the resounding victory over Croatia—delivered in a modest stadium brimming with schoolchildren—offers a much‑needed uplift for a team still finding its identity under Tuchel’s guidance.
The broader implication of this result is that England now possess a tangible example of what they can achieve when all components align: tactical discipline, technical flair, and collective hunger. If the squad can replicate this level of performance against stronger opposition, the path to future success becomes clearer.
Until then, fans can relish the memory of a dominant display that, if anything, reaffirms belief in the Tuchel project, at least for the short term.