Thomas Tuchel is acutely aware that the painful semi‑final loss to Argentina at the World Cup will cast a long shadow over his tenure, lingering well beyond the upcoming Euro 2028 campaign. Yet, on Saturday in Rijeka, the England side produced a stunning 7‑0 victory over Croatia that breathed fresh optimism into the project he has been building. The result was historic for several reasons: it marked Croatia's heaviest defeat ever, and no visiting team had ever managed to score more than four goals on Croatian soil before this match. While the Nations League cannot be equated with the intensity of a World Cup knockout, and the Croatian side in question was an ageing remnant of the golden generations that once dominated European football, the performance was nonetheless a clear statement.
England’s display was described by the manager, the players and pundits alike as "complete" – a term that encapsulated both the fluid attacking play and the defensive solidity that had often been questioned in previous outings. In the preceding fixtures, England’s win over Spain was marred by defensive lapses, and the victory against the Czech Republic was heavily influenced by an early red card. By contrast, the 7‑0 thrashing left no doubt about the team’s capabilities when everything clicked. The front line was electrifying, with the quartet of attackers combining with speed and precision.
Midfielders Elliot Anderson and Alex Scott, both making their first starts, dominated the central battle against a more experienced Croatian midfield, showing maturity beyond their caps. Even a spectacular miss from Mateo Kovačić at the 3‑0 mark could not shake England’s momentum; the hosts were reduced to a handful of half‑chances while the English full‑backs spent most of the match creating opportunities rather 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 sentiment was echoed by Tuchel, who called the win "fantastic" and praised the "speed, technical quality and hunger off the ball" as being at the highest possible level from kickoff to the final whistle.
Tuchel’s squad selection for the international break was his first press conference since the World Cup, and he used the platform to stress that the experiences shared in North America would be crucial for future success. He spoke of a "brotherhood" forged through a qualifying campaign, a major tournament, moments of joy and shared pain. While many English supporters were still raw from the criticism of his tactical choices against Argentina and his comments on the "DNA" of English players, the performance in Croatia suggested that his philosophy was beginning to take root. "We now have a lot of experience together," Tuchel explained when asked why the team seemed to click in Rijeka.
"We have been through a qualifying campaign, a big tournament, we have felt huge positive emotions together, we have suffered together. We know each other better, we understand what to demand and how to motivate. The spirit was right from the start of the camp and every puzzle piece fell into place." Looking ahead, Tuchel cautioned that the upcoming match against the Czech Republic at Wembley would present a different challenge and warned fans not to expect another seven‑goal avalanche.
Nevertheless, the 7‑0 result has set a high bar for excitement and suggests that England can produce such fireworks when the pieces align. The real test, however, will come on November 15 when England travel to face the reigning world champions, Spain, in Madrid. That encounter will likely determine whether the nation’s belief in a progressive trajectory under Tuchel is justified.
A win in Spain could secure England’s place in the Nations League quarter‑finals and cement the perception that the team has learned from past mistakes. Conversely, a poor showing would reignite doubts about the long‑term viability of Tuchel’s approach.
The outcome of the Madrid fixture will shape the narrative for the winter months and influence the confidence with which England approaches future major tournaments. For the moment, though, the thrashing of Croatia in a modest stadium filled with schoolchildren offers a welcome lift for players, staff and supporters alike. It serves as a reminder that when England is firing on all cylinders, they can be a truly formidable force on the international stage.
The challenge now is to translate this burst of brilliance into consistent performances against higher‑ranked opposition, ensuring that the optimism generated in Rijeka is not a fleeting flash but the foundation of a lasting legacy under Thomas Tuchel.