Thomas Tuchel is fully aware that the painful, heavily scrutinised semi‑final loss to Argentina at the World Cup will continue to cast a long shadow over his tenure with England, lingering well into the Euro 2028 campaign and perhaps beyond. Yet, on Saturday in Rijeka, the English side delivered a blistering 7‑0 victory over Croatia that breathed fresh life into the Tuchel project and reminded supporters of the potential that still exists within the squad. The result was historic for several reasons.
It marked Croatia’s heaviest defeat ever recorded, a nation that had never before conceded more than four goals on foreign soil. While the Nations League cannot be equated with the intensity of a World Cup knockout match, and while Croatia’s current generation lacks the firepower of the 1998 and 2018 sides, the emphatic win still carried significant psychological weight. England’s performance was described by the manager, the players and pundits alike as "complete," a term that suggests a balanced, disciplined, and attacking display that could become a benchmark for future fixtures. In the previous game against Spain, England showed promise but were marred by defensive lapses and a noticeable drop in quality compared with their opponents.
The win over the Czech Republic, meanwhile, was clouded by a first‑half red card that distorted the narrative. By contrast, the Croatia match left no room for doubt. The front line was electrifying, with the likes of Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, Jude Bellingham and new starter Alex Scott all contributing to a relentless on‑field assault. Midfielders Elliot Anderson and Alex Scott (the latter making his first start) dominated the central battle, out‑muscling their more experienced Croatian counterparts and dictating the tempo.
Even when Croatia’s veteran Mateo Kovačić had a chance to pull one back at 3‑0, the hosts quickly recovered and continued to create, while England’s full‑backs were busy providing width and delivering crosses rather than being tied to defensive duties. Sky Sports’ Rob Dorsett 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." Tuchel himself hailed the display as the best of his reign, noting, "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. The speed and the technical quality today and the hunger off the ball was on the very highest level." Such praise underscores how the manager perceives this match as a turning point, a tangible sign that his philosophy is beginning to take root.
When Tuchel announced his squad for the international break, he used his first post‑World Cup press conference to stress that the experiences shared in North America—both the triumphs and the heartbreak—would be crucial for future success. At the time, many English fans were still raw from his tactical choices in the Argentina match and his criticism of the perceived "DNA" of English players. However, the Rijeka performance suggested that the bond he spoke of was beginning to translate into on‑field cohesion.
"I just believe we have now a lot of experience together," Tuchel said when asked why the team clicked in 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 present a different kind of challenge and warned supporters not to expect another seven‑goal onslaught or a flood of chances in every game. Nevertheless, the 7‑0 thrashing has raised expectations for excitement in the next Nations League fixture, and the sheer magnitude of the win provides a morale boost that will be hard to ignore. The true test, however, looms on November 15 when England travel to face Spain in Madrid.
A victory there could cement the belief that England are on a progressive trajectory toward glory, while a poor showing might reignite doubts about Tuchel’s methods. By that point, England may already have secured a place in the Nations League quarter‑finals, but the encounter with the reigning world champions will be the litmus test for the squad’s development and for the lessons learned from past failures.
That Madrid showdown will likely set the tone for the winter months, influencing whether England can translate their domestic form into success on the biggest stages. For the moment, though, the 7‑0 demolition of Croatia—achieved in a modest stadium filled with schoolchildren—offers a much‑needed lift for both the players and the fanbase.
In summary, Tuchel’s England have demonstrated that they can produce a complete, high‑intensity performance when all elements align. The victory over Croatia showcases technical proficiency, tactical discipline, and a hunger that could serve as a foundation for future achievements.
While challenges remain, particularly against higher‑ranked opposition, the performance provides a compelling argument that the project is back on track, at least for now.