Nations League analysis: Five talking points ahead of England’s clash with Croatia

England will travel to Rijeka to face Croatia on Saturday for a Nations League showdown.

Both teams will be going into the game with three points each with both having won and lost a game. 

The Three Lions head into Saturday's game after beating Czechia 2-0 in Prague, while Croatia suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat against Spain in Seville.

Here, Sports News Blitz writer Elliot Desage looks at five talking points ahead of the game.

Can England get another win?

England will be hoping to make it two wins in a row after beating Czechia.

The result in Prague was a good response after losing to Spain in their first Nations League match. Anthony Gordon scored the first goal before Harry Kane made it 2-0.

England will now want to keep that momentum going against Croatia. 

It will not be an easy game, especially away from home, but another win would put England in a good position in the group.

Can Kane keep scoring?

Harry Kane is always one of the main players to watch when England play.

He scored against Czechia and has also scored in each of his last five away games for England. 

Kane also scored twice the last time England played Croatia at the 2026 World Cup.

He has played Croatia many times before, so he knows what to expect from them.

England will be hoping he can find the net again and help them get another important result.

How will Croatia respond?

Croatia will probably be desperate to respond after their 4-1 defeat against Spain.

They struggled to create many chances in that game and were beaten quite comfortably in the end. 

However, it would be a mistake for England to take Croatia lightly.

They have plenty of experienced players, including Luka Modric, and will be looking to put the Spain result behind them.

Playing at home should also give Croatia extra motivation, even though the match will be played in unusual circumstances.

What will the atmosphere be like?

One of the strangest things about this match is that it is being played behind closed doors.

Croatia are facing a UEFA punishment, meaning there will not be the normal crowd inside the stadium. 

However, some children are expected to be allowed into the ground under UEFA rules.

This could make the game feel very different for the players.

England are used to playing in front of big crowds and having travelling supporters behind them, so it will be interesting to see if the unusual atmosphere has any effect on the game.

Can England continue their good record against Croatia?

England have had some memorable games against Croatia over the years.

The most famous is probably the 2018 World Cup semi-final, when Croatia beat England 2-1 after extra-time.

Since then, though, England have not lost to Croatia in their last four meetings. Their most recent game ended in a 4-2 England win at the 2026 World Cup.

Kane scored twice in that match, while Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford also got on the scoresheet.

Of course, past results do not guarantee anything in football, but England will be hoping their recent record against Croatia can continue.

What can we expect?

There are plenty of things to look out for when Croatia and England meet.

England will want another win after beating Czechia, while Croatia will be looking to recover from their heavy defeat against Spain.

Kane's form will also be something to watch, especially after he scored in the last game.

The unusual atmosphere could make things interesting as well. With both teams currently on three points, this is an important game for both sides.

Hopefully, it can be another entertaining match between two teams that have produced some memorable games in the past.

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