Bellingham Inspires England’s 7-0 Nations League Rout of Croatia
Jude Bellingham produced a goal and three assists as England dismantled Croatia 7-0 in Rijeka, delivering Thomas Tuchel’s side an emphatic statement in Nations League League A3. The Real Madrid midfielder operated at the centre of England’s attacking play, combining decisive final-third work with the off-ball intensity that helped prevent Croatia from recovering after the early setbacks.
England’s attacking unit overwhelms Croatia
England’s fluid front four gave Croatia’s defence no respite on Saturday. Bellingham played in the space behind Harry Kane, with Bukayo Saka and Anthony Gordon providing the width, and the visitors steadily turned their superiority into a rout.
- Bellingham scored once and created three goals.
- Kane scored twice.
- Saka also registered two goals.
- Gordon and Morgan Rogers completed the seven-goal win.
The result underlined the range of attacking options available to Tuchel. England’s forwards repeatedly found room around the Croatian back line, while Bellingham connected the midfield and attack throughout a one-sided contest.
Bellingham’s England record continues to grow
The 23-year-old’s contribution in Rijeka added further weight to an already substantial international record. Since making his England debut, Bellingham has collected 14 goals and 13 assists across 59 appearances.
| England statistic | Total |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 59 |
| Goals | 14 |
| Assists | 13 |
| Goals at World Cup and European Championship finals | 10 |
| Matches as captain | 2 |
He has also worn the captain’s armband twice, another indication of his standing within the group. His 10 goals across World Cup and European Championship tournaments have made him one of England’s most influential performers on the major-stage calendar.
Keane highlights work without the ball
Roy Keane said Bellingham still has considerable room to improve despite his already imposing output for club and country. “There is still a lot more to come from Bellingham,” Keane said after the match.
Keane also argued that the midfielder has the potential to enter the game’s highest historical bracket. “He can become one of the greatest players ever,” he said.
Beyond the goal and assists, Keane pointed to Bellingham’s application when England did not have possession. He praised his recent attitude for the national side, saying his pressing and defensive work raises the level of those around him as much as his quality on the ball.
Momentum for Tuchel’s next fixtures
Tuchel praised the squad’s collective execution, believing England followed his instructions closely enough to leave Croatia with no route back once the early goals arrived. The scale of the win has strengthened England’s position among the leading contenders in League A3 ahead of the next Nations League matches.
England will seek to carry the same standards into those fixtures, while Real Madrid will be monitoring Bellingham’s international workload and hoping he returns without injury.
