Thomas Tuchel is acutely aware that the painful, heavily scrutinised semi‑final loss to Argentina at the World Cup will linger over him and his squad for years to come, perhaps until the next European Championship in 2028 and beyond. Yet on Saturday in Croatia, England produced a thunderous 7‑0 victory that breathed new life into the Tuchel project and offered a glimpse of what could be achieved when the team clicks. The result was historic on several fronts. It marked Croatia’s heaviest defeat ever recorded; no visiting side 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 that faced England was an ageing remnant of the golden teams of the past, the emphatic nature of the win cannot be dismissed. The performance was described by the manager, the players and pundits alike as "complete," a rare endorsement that suggests England are once again on an upward trajectory. In the previous fixtures, England’s positives against Spain were clouded by defensive lapses and a noticeable gap in quality, while the victory over the Czech Republic was heavily influenced by a first‑half red card. By contrast, the 7‑0 demolition left no doubt about the team’s capabilities.
The front four operated with electricity and precision, tearing apart the Croatian defence at every turn. Midfielders Elliot Anderson and Alex Scott, the latter on his first start, dominated the central battle against far more experienced opponents, dictating tempo and providing the platform for the attackers.
Even a spectacular miss from Mateo Kovačić at the 3‑0 mark could not alter the flow of the game; Croatia were limited to fleeting chances, while England’s full‑backs spent most of the match creating opportunities rather than defending. Rob Dorsett of Sky Sports summed up the spectacle perfectly: "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 the manager, who called the win "fantastic" and praised the "speed, technical quality and hunger off the ball" as being at the highest level from the opening whistle to the final minute. Tuchel’s squad selection for this 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 prove vital for future success. He spoke of the "brotherhood" forged during the qualifying campaign and the tournament, emphasizing that the collective pain and joy had deepened the players’ understanding of each other and of what is required to motivate the group.
While many English supporters were still raw from his tactical choices in the Argentina match and his criticism of the national team’s "DNA," the performance in Rijeka suggested that his philosophy was beginning to take root. "I just believe we have now a lot of experience together," Tuchel explained when asked why the team seemed to click 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 warned that the upcoming clash with the Czech Republic at Wembley will present a different challenge and cautioned fans against expecting another seven‑goal onslaught in every match. Nevertheless, the magnitude of the 7‑0 triumph has raised expectations for the next Nations League fixture, and the team now carries momentum into that encounter. The real test, however, looms on November 15 when England travel to face the reigning world champions, Spain, in Madrid.
That fixture will have a far more significant impact on the perception of Tuchel’s tenure and will determine whether England are truly on a progressive path toward major glory. A strong showing could secure a place in the Nations League quarter‑finals and cement the belief that England have learned from past mistakes. Conversely, a poor performance would reignite doubts about the project’s direction. For the moment, the 7‑0 thrashing of Croatia, played in a modest stadium filled with schoolchildren, provides a much‑needed lift for the squad and its supporters.
It showcases what is possible when the team’s technical skill, tactical discipline and collective spirit align. While the journey ahead remains fraught with challenges, this victory offers a compelling narrative that England can compete at the highest level under Tuchel’s guidance, at least for now.