Thomas Tuchel expressed satisfaction with England’s progress beyond their World Cup disappointment after witnessing his team deliver a commanding performance in Rijeka, which resulted in Croatia’s largest defeat in history.
Tuchel was particularly pleased with the synergy displayed by his attacking quartet at the Stadion HNK Rijeka, where 6,200 local schoolchildren were admitted for free. This was despite the match being initially designated as closed to the public due to UEFA sanctions on Croatia for past incidents of racist and discriminatory behavior from fans.
England solidified their hold on second place in their Nations League group and are optimistic about qualifying for next year’s finals. The team saw Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka each contribute two goals, while Jude Bellingham made history as the first midfielder to achieve four goal involvements in a single match since David Platt in 1993. Additionally, Anthony Gordon and Morgan Rogers added to the scoreline. Tuchel believes that his players have effectively used the extended international break to move past their disappointing World Cup semi-final loss to Argentina.
“When you experience pain, you must confront it,” the manager stated. “The same applies to disappointment. The beginning of this camp was challenging. However, we showcased an excellent performance against Spain. The focus during our meetings and the ability to translate that onto the pitch, especially under the circumstances in Croatia, culminated in this dominant victory. While we will always bear the scars of past defeats, this is the path we must take to move forward. Our style has remained consistent across all three matches.”
Tuchel described the match as a comprehensive display. England exhibited strong pressing, creativity in possession, and quick counterattacks. Kane, who is set to match Peter Shilton’s record with 125 caps when England faces Czechia in their final match of the camp on Tuesday, noted that the performance embodied the intensity of a Premier League match.
“The players are determined to play this way; it’s their belief and desire,” Tuchel commented. “We don’t need to persuade them. Harry brings a high level of intensity from his time at Bayern. We still believe that playing aggressively gives us an advantage. Pushing forward as much as possible in one-on-one situations is what the team prefers, although we must be cautious of the risks involved.”
Alex Scott also delivered an impressive full debut in midfield. “What a debut it was for him,” Tuchel remarked about the 23-year-old. “He is incredibly composed on the ball, makes sound decisions, and plays with confidence. His off-the-ball work rate makes him a complete player. We enjoyed a great deal of variety in our midfield play.”
Scott expressed excitement about competing against Luka Modric, who struggled during the match for Croatia. “It feels surreal,” said the Bournemouth midfielder. “He was one of my favorite players growing up. To share the pitch with one of the best players in the world and come away with a win is a great honor.”
Kane, now with 89 international goals, praised England’s collective mindset. Croatia, ranked 13th in the world, aimed to recover from their recent 4-1 loss to Spain.
“Everyone performed at their peak,” the captain noted. “They rested many players on Tuesday, likely viewing this match as their best chance to secure a top-two finish. The week has been beautiful, with amazing weather and a fantastic hotel overlooking the ocean. It would have been easy to slip into holiday mode.”
