Thomas Tuchel is acutely aware that England’s painful semi‑final loss to Argentina at the World Cup will cast a long shadow over his tenure, lingering through the Euro 2028 campaign and perhaps even beyond. Yet the 7‑0 demolition of Croatia on Saturday in Rijeka offered a potent reminder that the project under his guidance still has the capacity to spark optimism.
The result was not only emphatic but also historic: it marked Croatia’s heaviest defeat ever, surpassing any previous margin and shattering the record for the most goals conceded by the side on foreign soil. While the Nations League cannot be equated with the intensity of a World Cup knockout match, and the Croatian side—now an aging echo of the golden generations that once thrilled fans—did not present a top‑tier test, England’s all‑encompassing performance was a clear signal that the team can still produce football of the highest calibre. Earlier in the week, the positives displayed against Spain were marred by defensive lapses and an evident quality gap, and the victory over the Czech Republic was tainted by a first‑half red card that disrupted the flow of the game.
By contrast, the triumph over Croatia was pure and decisive. The attacking quartet lit up the pitch with relentless energy and clinical finishing. Newcomer Elliot Anderson and debutant Alex Scott commanded the midfield, holding their own against more experienced opponents and dictating the tempo.
Although Mateo Kovačić had a chance to pull one back at 3‑0, Croatia’s threats were minimal, and England’s full‑backs spent more time creating opportunities than defending. Sky Sports’ Rob Dorsett summed up the spectacle from the press box: “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.” Tuchel himself hailed the outing as the best of his reign. “It was a fantastic victory.
It’s an outstanding result, of course, and the performance underlying this result is just on the highest level, from the first minutes to the last,” he said. He added, “The speed, the technical quality today and the hunger off the ball were on the very highest level.” When he announced his squad for the international break, Tuchel used his first post‑World Cup press conference to stress that the summer tournament had forged a stronger bond among the players—a "brotherhood" that would be crucial for future success. At the time, many England supporters were still reeling from his tactical choices in the Argentina match and his criticism of the perceived "DNA" of English footballers. Yet in Rijeka, the foundations of that theory appeared to be taking shape.
Asked why the team clicked so effortlessly against Croatia, Tuchel replied, “I just believe we have now a lot of experience together. 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 clash with the Czech Republic at Wembley will pose a different kind of challenge and warned fans not to expect another seven‑goal onslaught.
Nevertheless, the magnitude of the 7‑0 win has set a high bar for excitement in the next Nations League fixture. The real test will arrive on November 15, when England travel to face Spain, the reigning world champions. That encounter will likely determine whether the perception of a progressive trajectory toward glory holds water.
A victory in Madrid could cement England’s place in the Nations League quarter‑finals and reinforce the notion that the team has internalised the lessons of past failures. Conversely, a poor showing could reignite doubts about Tuchel’s methods and the squad’s ability to perform on the biggest stages. The outcome of that match will shape the narrative for the winter months and influence the confidence of both players and supporters as they look toward future tournaments. For now, however, the 7‑0 thrashing of Croatia—delivered in a modest stadium buzzing with schoolchildren—offers a much‑needed morale boost.
It reminds everyone that under Tuchel’s guidance, England can still produce moments of brilliance and dominate opponents with authority. As the team prepares for the next set of challenges, this victory serves as a tangible example of what can be achieved when talent, preparation, and collective spirit align. Play Super 6 for a chance to win £1m! Enter for free.