UEFA Nations League 2026/27 β League A, Group A3
π
3 October 2026
ποΈ Stadion HNK Rijeka, Rijeka
β° 18:00 CET / 5:00 PM BST / 12:00 AM Malaysia time
Croatia host England in one of the standout UEFA Nations League fixtures on Saturday, with both sides looking to strengthen their position in Group A3.
The match comes just days after contrasting results for the two teams. England responded to their defeat against Spain by beating Czechia 2β0, while Croatia suffered a 4β1 defeat away to Spain.
UEFA’s official preview highlights Harry Kane and Anthony Gordon, who have both scored in England’s opening two Nations League matches.
π Recent Form
ππ· Croatia
Croatia began the Nations League campaign with a positive 2β1 victory away against Czechia.
However, their second match produced a very different result as Spain recorded a convincing 4β1 victory.
- π¨πΏ Czechia 1β2 Croatia
- πͺπΈ Spain 4β1 Croatia
Croatia now face another major test against England before meeting Spain again on 6 October.
π΄ England
England opened the campaign with a high-scoring 3β2 defeat against Spain at Wembley.
Thomas Tuchel’s side responded well, beating Czechia 2β0 in their second match.
- π΄ England 2β3 Spain
- π¨πΏ Czechia 0β2 England
The response against Czechia gives England some momentum heading into the Rijeka fixture.
π₯ Head-to-Head
The rivalry between Croatia and England has produced several memorable matches.
UEFA’s current head-to-head record lists:
- ππ· Croatia wins: 3
- π€ Draws: 2
- π΄ England wins: 6
- Goals: Croatia 13, England 22
England also won the most recent World Cup meeting 4β2 earlier in 2026.
UEFA notes that Croatia’s famous 2β1 victory over England in the 2018 World Cup semi-final remains an important part of the rivalry, but England have since gone unbeaten in their meetings with Croatia.
β Players to Watch
ππ· Luka ModriΔ
The experienced Croatian midfielder remains an important figure in the team’s midfield.
UEFA’s current squad list shows ModriΔ has already made two appearances in this Nations League campaign and scored once.
Croatia will need his experience and ability to control possession if they are to compete with England’s midfield.
ππ· Martin Baturina & Petar SuΔiΔ
The younger Croatian midfielders provide an interesting contrast to ModriΔ’s experience.
Baturina and SuΔiΔ are among the players who could become increasingly important as Croatia look to refresh their squad.
π΄ Harry Kane
Kane has scored in both of England’s opening Nations League matches.
UEFA also identifies Kane as one of the key players to watch against Croatia.
π΄ Anthony Gordon
Gordon has also scored in England’s first two Nations League games.
His pace and ability to attack space could be particularly important if Croatia push their defensive line higher.
π§ Tactical Match-Up
The biggest question is likely to be how Croatia deal with England’s attacking movement.
England have shown they can create chances through both central areas and wide positions, while Kane provides a focal point in the final third.
Croatia, meanwhile, have the technical quality to control periods of possession and use their midfield experience to slow the tempo.
The opening stages could therefore be important. If Croatia can control possession and prevent England from establishing an attacking rhythm, the match could become much more tactical.
If England are able to press effectively and move the ball quickly into the final third, Croatia’s defensive organisation will face a major test.
ποΈ Matchday Atmosphere
One unusual aspect of this fixture is that it is being played behind closed doors following UEFA disciplinary action involving the Croatian federation.
That removes the usual home-crowd advantage normally associated with a Croatia match in Rijeka.
π Key Stats at a Glance
| Category | ππ· Croatia | π΄ England |
|---|---|---|
| Last Nations League match | 1β4 vs Spain | 2β0 vs Czechia |
| Previous match | 2β1 vs Czechia | 2β3 vs Spain |
| H2H wins | 3 | 6 |
| H2H draws | 2 | 2 |
| H2H goals | 13 | 22 |
| Key attacking player | Martin Baturina / Luka ModriΔ | Harry Kane / Anthony Gordon |
π Match Outlook
This is a fascinating Group A3 meeting because the teams arrive with different momentum.
Croatia showed their quality by winning in Czechia but were exposed by Spain’s attacking power in their second match.
England also lost to Spain, but their immediate response against Czechia was encouraging.
With both teams still competing in a group containing Spain and Czechia, every point is important.
The key battles will be Croatia’s midfield control against England’s attacking movement, and whether Croatia can prevent Kane and Gordon from influencing the game.
Football fans should expect a competitive tactical battle in Rijeka, with both teams having plenty to play for.
β½ Dan King VIP Match Focus
Main storyline: Can Croatia recover from the heavy defeat to Spain, or will England continue their strong recent record against the hosts?
Players to watch: Luka ModriΔ ππ·, Martin Baturina ππ·, Harry Kane π΄, Anthony Gordon π΄
Match: ππ· Croatia vs England π΄
Competition: UEFA Nations League β League A, Group A3
Date: 3 October 2026
Venue: Stadion HNK Rijeka