The match in Rijeka was a vivid illustration of what England can achieve when everything clicks. It was the performance many supporters had long believed lay just beneath the surface, a display that captain Harry Kane had hinted at repeatedly during press conferences but that had never been sustained for a full ninety minutes.
When the team finally delivered that vision for the 100 spectators in the modest stadium and the millions watching on television, the experience was electrifying, uplifting, and deeply satisfying. Yet, alongside the joy, there was a sharp edge of irritation that cut through every England fan’s heart.
The reason for that irritation is simple: the style we witnessed is exactly the brand of football we crave in the decisive moments of the biggest tournaments. It is the brand that can topple the world’s elite and carry us to the ultimate prize – a gleaming trophy that has eluded us for decades. It may sound harsh to say this about a competitive fixture, but the reality is that Croatia, a nation sitting 14th in the FIFA rankings, were dismantled on their own soil. The victory could be seen as a milestone, a template for how England should operate on the international stage, and a confidence‑boosting signal that the squad truly believes it can overcome the world’s best.
However, we must not forget that just a week earlier England faced the very best – the reigning World and European champions, Spain – and fell short in a match that again felt like a near‑miss. The triumph in Rijeka has, in many ways, pushed the bitterness of that World Cup semi‑final loss into the far corners of supporters’ memories, offering a temporary reprieve and a much‑needed lift for Thomas Tuchel’s tenure. At the start of the extended international break, the German manager was under genuine pressure.
Fans had been furious over the hyper‑defensive tactics employed in the latter stages of the World Cup semi‑final against Argentina. The approach sparked anger not only among the fanbase but also among some of the players, feeding credible doubts about Tuchel’s future. In the early days of the training camp, Tuchel appeared sullen, pre‑occupied, and visibly irritated by a media narrative that kept dredging up the disappointment in Atlanta. In stark contrast, the performance in the tiny Rijeka venue, perched on the edge of the Adriatic, epitomised Tuchel’s ideal vision for his side: rapid movement, physical intensity, crisp passing, forward thrusts, relentless pressing, fluid transitions, and merciless finishing.
This is likely what the coach meant when he described playing in the "Premier League way" – a brand of football that blends technical skill with relentless aggression. England’s attacking quartet was virtually unstoppable. After the game, Kane explained that the players have developed a unique understanding that creates a new level of fluidity, allowing them to interchange positions, cover for each other across the pitch, and dismantle opposing defenses. The pattern recalls the total‑football philosophy pioneered by Johan Cruyff’s Dutch side in the 1970s.
Tuchel refers to these instinctive links as "connections" – an innate chemistry among players that lifts performance to new heights. He has been urging his senior core to internalise this concept ever since taking charge.
While the spectacle was heartening, a few caveats remain. First, the Croatian side on display was arguably one of the weakest versions of a historically strong football nation.
Manager Slaven Bilić faces a daunting task replacing the generational talent of Luka Modrić, who is now winding down his career at 41, and the aging Ivan Perišić, who was exposed by Bukayo Saka and is merely four years younger than Modrić. Technically and tactically, Croatia struggled; physically they appeared fragile, and defensively they were porous. England’s brilliance simply highlighted those shortcomings. Yet we should remember that England often peaks in the early autumn, when players are fresh after the summer break and the weather is milder.
Summer tournaments, with scorching heat and the fatigue accumulated after a grueling Premier League season, have historically proven challenging for the Three Lions. This raises the question: is the "Premier League‑style masterclass" witnessed in Rijeka only replicable outside major tournaments?
Kane himself admitted after the 2024 European Championship in Germany – and reiterated after the World Cup in the United States – that England has never truly reached its potential in those competitions. The level of play we observed in the Nations League third round was a vivid, technicolour demonstration of what the team is capable of when conditions are optimal.
Looking ahead, there are reasons for optimism. Young talents such as Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Anderson and the newly‑capped, technically gifted Alex Scott are poised to improve with experience. Their development could turn this performance into a stepping stone toward a future where England consistently reproduces such brilliance on the biggest stages.
If the squad can translate the fluid, high‑pressing, attacking football displayed in Croatia into consistent tournament performances against top‑tier opposition, the nation’s long‑standing dream of lifting a major trophy could finally become a reality. Until then, supporters will continue to oscillate between admiration for what they have seen and anxiety about whether it can be replicated when the stakes are highest. The memory of that 7‑0 victory will remain a benchmark – a reminder of both what is possible and what still needs to be achieved.