Croatia vs England Result

Croatia's heaviest defeat of this Nations League campaign came four days ago, a 4-1 loss away to Spain, and it is the form England will be hoping to find again in Rijeka. The two sides meet on Saturday with Croatia needing a response and England looking to build on a recent away win.

• Fixture: Croatia vs England
• Competition: UEFA Nations League
• Date: Saturday, 3 October 2026
• Kick-off: 17:00 BST
• Venue: Rujevica Stadium, Rijeka

Croatia's defence has gone from solid to shaky in a week

Three days before the Spain defeat, Croatia had won 2-1 away to Czechia, a result that suggested a team organised enough to grind out a result on the road. The 4-1 collapse against Spain undoes that. Conceding four goals in one match and one in the other means Croatia have shipped five in their last two outings, and whichever version of the team turns up at the Rujevica Stadium will shape how this one goes.

England arrive on the back of a win in Czechia

England lost 2-3 to Spain on 26 September, then responded four days later with a 2-0 win away to Czechia. That is a side that can lose control of a game against the strongest opposition but still travel and get a professional result against lesser ones. Croatia, on the numbers above, currently sit closer to the Czechia end of that scale than the Spain end.

The last meeting was only four months ago

England beat Croatia 4-2 at the World Cup in June, the two sides' only meeting in our records. Four goals conceded again would be a serious concern for a Croatia team already leaking at the back against Spain, and a repeat of that scoreline is well within what the recent form supports.