Croatia vs England – UEFA Nations League 2026/27 Preview

Match Detail	Information
Match	Croatia vs England
Competition	UEFA Nations League 2026/27
League	League A – Group A3
Matchday	Matchday 3
Date	Saturday, 3 October 2026
Kick-off	9:30 PM IST
Venue	Stadion HNK Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia

Match Preview

Croatia will host England in a highly anticipated UEFA Nations League 2026/27 Group A3 encounter on Saturday, 3 October. The match will be played at Stadion HNK Rijeka, with kick-off scheduled for 9:30 PM IST.

Both teams are competing in a difficult group that also contains Spain and Czechia. England began their campaign with a 3-2 home defeat against Spain before responding with a 2-0 victory over Czechia. Croatia opened with a 2-1 win against Czechia but suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat against Spain in their second match.

Croatia Team Form

Croatia started the group stage positively with a 2-1 away victory over Czechia. However, they were beaten 4-1 by Spain in their following fixture, leaving them needing a strong response against England.

Luka Modrić remains an important figure for Croatia, while players such as Joško Gvardiol, Mateo Kovačić and Ivan Perišić provide experience throughout the team.

England Team Form

England suffered a narrow 3-2 defeat against Spain in their opening Nations League fixture. Thomas Tuchel's team bounced back in Prague with a 2-0 win over Czechia, with Anthony Gordon and Harry Kane finding the net.

The victory gives England confidence heading into their difficult away fixture in Rijeka. Kane has already scored twice in the opening two matches, while Gordon has also contributed two goals.

Team News

England's squad includes Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Anthony Gordon, Eberechi Eze and Morgan Rogers. Jarell Quansah is also among the defensive options selected by Thomas Tuchel.

Croatia have experienced players available, including captain Luka Modrić, Mateo Kovačić, Ivan Perišić and Joško Gvardiol. Andrej Kramarić is also part of the squad.

Key Players to Watch

• Harry Kane – England: The England captain remains the main attacking threat and has already scored twice in this Nations League campaign.
• Jude Bellingham – England: His ability to carry the ball forward and influence the midfield could be crucial against Croatia.
• Anthony Gordon – England: His pace and direct running can cause problems for Croatia's defence.
• Luka Modrić – Croatia: The Croatian captain remains an influential creative presence in midfield.
• Joško Gvardiol – Croatia: His defensive quality and ability to progress the ball will be important against England's attacking players.
• Mateo Kovačić – Croatia: His ball-carrying and midfield control could help Croatia compete against England's strong midfield.

Head-to-Head

England have the stronger historical record against Croatia. UEFA's records show England with six wins, Croatia with three wins and two draws from their previous meetings. England have scored 22 goals compared with Croatia's 13.

The most recent meeting came at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, when England defeated Croatia 4-2 in the group stage.

Tactical Battle

Croatia are likely to rely on their experienced midfield to slow the game down and create opportunities through controlled possession. Modrić and Kovačić can be particularly important in progressing the ball into attacking areas.

England are expected to use their pace and attacking movement to stretch the Croatian defence. Kane's positioning alongside players such as Gordon and Saka could create problems, while Bellingham can provide an additional threat from midfield.

Match Prediction

Croatia have home advantage but enter the match after a heavy defeat against Spain. England, meanwhile, recovered from their opening loss with a convincing victory over Czechia.

Predicted Score: Croatia 1-2 England

Editorial prediction: England to have the edge.

Conclusion

Croatia vs England is an important Group A3 fixture, with both teams looking to strengthen their position behind early leaders Spain. Croatia will aim to use home advantage and their experienced midfield, while England will look to build on their 2-0 victory over Czechia.

The match is scheduled for 9:30 PM IST on Saturday, 3 October 2026 at Stadion HNK Rijeka in Rijeka, Croatia. The fixture is being played behind closed doors because of a UEFA sanction.