Thomas Tuchel's England produced one of the most dominant performances of his reign as the Three Lions demolished Croatia 7-0 in Rijeka in the UEFA Nations League. Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka both scored twice, while Jude Bellingham, Anthony Gordon and Morgan Rogers also found the net as England raced into a commanding lead and never looked back.
The emphatic victory was not only a statement of England's attacking quality. It also saw Tuchel's side make history against one of Europe's most accomplished international teams.
England Set Historic Croatia Record
England became the first team ever to score five goals in an away game against Croatia.
The landmark was reached during an extraordinary first-half performance in Rijeka, with England overwhelming Croatia through relentless attacking pressure and clinical finishing.
By the time England reached five goals, the contest had effectively been decided. The Three Lions ultimately went on to score seven, handing Croatia their heaviest defeat in international football history.
It was an extraordinary achievement against a Croatia side that has established itself as one of Europe's strongest teams over the past decade.
Tuchel's England Make Statement
The record underlines just how impressive England's performance was.
Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka each scored twice, while Bellingham produced a sensational performance with a goal and three assists. Gordon and substitute Morgan Rogers completed the rout as England's attacking players repeatedly found space behind the Croatian defence.
The result also continued England's strong start to their Nations League campaign. Tuchel's team moved onto six points from their opening three matches, strengthening their position in Group A3.
For Tuchel, the performance represented another major step forward in his attempt to build England into a genuine tournament-winning side.
A Historic Night in Rijeka
The circumstances made the victory even more unusual. Croatia's home fixture was played with only around 6,200 schoolchildren permitted to attend following UEFA disciplinary sanctions, creating an unusual atmosphere inside the stadium.
None of that affected England's performance.
The Three Lions were ruthless from the opening stages, combining aggressive pressing with quick passing and clinical finishing. Croatia, meanwhile, struggled to cope with England's intensity and were unable to prevent the visitors from repeatedly creating dangerous opportunities.
The final score of Croatia 0-7 England will go down as one of the most remarkable results in the fixture's history.
Most importantly for Tuchel, England did not simply win, they demolished a major European opponent while creating a record that may stand for years.
England are now the first team to score five goals away against Croatia, and they ended the night with seven.