7-0 Thrashing: England Buries World Cup Woes, Says Tuchel
7-0 Thrashing: England Buries World Cup Woes, Says Tuchel
England secures a stunning 7-0 victory over Croatia in the Nations League, with manager Thomas Tuchel declaring the team has moved past its World Cup disappointment. A dominant performance!
England delivered a sensational performance in Rijeka, thrashing Croatia 7-0 in a Nations League encounter that manager Thomas Tuchel believes has helped the team put their World Cup semi-final defeat firmly behind them. The dominant display saw England's attacking prowess shine, with Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka each netting twice, while Jude Bellingham became the first midfielder since 1993 to record four goal involvements in a single game.
Anthony Gordon and Morgan Rogers also contributed to the scoreboard. The match, played at Stadion HNK Rijeka, was notable not only for the scoreline but also for the unusual circumstance of having 6,200 local schoolchildren in attendance for free. This arrangement came after Croatia was penalized by Uefa for racist and discriminatory fan behavior last year, leading to the game initially being slated for behind closed doors.
Tuchel praised his team's "complete package" performance, highlighting their intense pressing, inventive possession play, and rapid counterattacks.
He emphasized the mental shift: "If you feel pain you have to lay with the pain.
The same with disappointment.
It was not easy at the beginning of the camp... this dominant performance is the way to move on. We'll always have a scar, feel pain, but this is the way to move forward." The victory further solidifies England's grip on second place in their Nations League group, boosting their confidence for next year's finals. Midfielder Alex Scott also earned high praise for his full debut.
The 23-year-old Bournemouth player made a significant impact, with Tuchel commending his smooth ball control, confident decision-making, and active work rate off the ball. Scott himself described facing Croatian legend Luka Modric as "surreal" and a "great honour," a sentiment shared by many watching his impressive entry onto the international stage.
Harry Kane, who is nearing Peter Shilton's cap record and now boasts 89 international goals, lauded the team's attitude. Despite Croatia being 13th in the world and looking to rebound from a recent loss to Spain, England maintained a relentless intensity throughout the match.
Tuchel noted that the players' conviction to play on the front foot and push aggressively was key to their success.
