Croatia vs England H2H & Nations League Preview 2026-27

Croatia hosts England at Stadion HNK Rijeka on October 3 in Matchday 3 of the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League. The teams know each other well and met as recently as the 2026 World Cup, when England won 4-2 in the group stage.

They now meet again in a difficult Group A3 that also contains Spain and Czechia. England face Spain and Czechia before travelling to Croatia, while Slaven Bilić's side start against Czechia and Spain. This will therefore be the third match for both teams during the extended international window.

Croatia vs England Match Details

Competition: 2026/27 UEFA Nations League
League: League A
Group: A3
Stage: Matchday 3
Date: October 3, 2026
Kick-off: 18:00 local time
Venue: Stadion HNK Rijeka, Rijeka
Croatia coach: Slaven Bilić
England coach: Thomas Tuchel

The match is scheduled to be played behind closed doors because of a UEFA sanction against Croatia.

Croatia vs England Head-to-Head Record

England have the stronger overall record. The countries have met 12 times. England have won seven, Croatia have won three, and two matches have ended in draws. Their last six meetings were:

England 4-2 Croatia – June 2026
England 1-0 Croatia – June 2021
England 2-1 Croatia – November 2018
Croatia 0-0 England – October 2018
Croatia 2-1 England – July 2018
England 5-1 Croatia – September 2009

The recent competitive record favours England, but Croatia's 2-1 World Cup semi-final victory in 2018 remains one of the biggest results in the history of this matchup. More importantly for this game, England beat Croatia 4-2 only a few months ago at the 2026 World Cup.

Croatia Recent Form

Croatia reached the Round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup. Their last five matches before this Nations League campaign were:

Portugal 2-1 Croatia
Croatia 2-1 Ghana
Panama 0-1 Croatia
England 4-2 Croatia
Croatia 2-1 Slovenia

Croatia recovered well after losing their World Cup opener to England. They beat Panama and Ghana to progress from the group before Portugal eliminated them 2-1. That was their earliest World Cup exit since 2014 and brought an end to Zlatko Dalić's tenure.

Bilić has now returned for a second spell as national-team coach and must manage a squad that still contains several experienced players while gradually introducing a younger generation.

England Recent Form

England enter the Nations League after finishing third at the World Cup. Their last five matches were:

France 4-6 England
England 1-2 Argentina
Norway 1-2 England – after extra time
Mexico 2-3 England
England 2-1 DR Congo

England reached the semi-finals before losing to Argentina and then beat France 6-4 in the third-place match. Their World Cup campaign also included the 4-2 victory over Croatia, which gives Tuchel a recent tactical reference for this fixture.

Croatia Team News

Bilić's squad retains many familiar names. Dominik Livaković is among the goalkeepers, while Joško Gvardiol, Josip Šutalo, Josip Stanišić and Luka Vušković provide defensive options.

Luka Modrić continues his international career at 41 and is joined in midfield by Mateo Kovačić, Mario Pašalić, Martin Baturina, Luka Sučić and Petar Sučić. Ivan Perišić, Andrej Kramarić, Ante Budimir, Franjo Ivanović and Igor Matanović are among the attacking options.

There have already been changes because of injury. Martin Erlić and Josip Juranović have withdrawn. Marin Pongračić, Kristijan Jakić and Lovro Majer were subsequently added to the group. Those absences reduce Bilić's defensive options, particularly on the right side.

England Team News

Tuchel originally named a 27-player squad, but England have also suffered several withdrawals. Declan Rice, Cole Palmer, Marcus Rashford, Kobbie Mainoo and Tino Livramento have all been ruled out through injury.

James Garner and Morgan Gibbs-White were added as replacements. Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Anthony Gordon, Eberechi Eze, Morgan Rogers and Rio Ngumoha remain among England's attacking options.

Trent Alexander-Arnold, Marc Guéhi, Ezri Konsa, Jarrad Branthwaite and Jarell Quansah are among the defenders available. Rice's absence is particularly important because England lose one of their best players for protecting the defence and controlling transitions.

Key Players

Luka Modrić

Modrić remains important because of the control he gives Croatia in possession. England will want to prevent him from receiving the ball comfortably and dictating the speed of the game.

His role may not require him to play every minute during a demanding four-match window, but Croatia remain more composed when he can influence midfield.

Joško Gvardiol

Gvardiol gives Croatia pace, strength and quality on the ball. Against England's quick attackers, his recovery speed could become particularly important when Croatia lose possession.

Jude Bellingham

Bellingham can influence the game in several areas. Without Rice, England may need him to take greater responsibility in midfield, but his ability to arrive around the penalty area remains one of England's biggest attacking weapons.

Bukayo Saka

Saka gives England a reliable one-on-one threat from the right. Croatia need to stop him from repeatedly isolating a full-back because he can create chances both by cutting inside and by attacking the outside.

Tactical Battle

The midfield battle should be central to this match. Croatia still have technically strong midfielders through Modrić, Kovačić, the Sučić brothers and Baturina. England have Bellingham, Elliot Anderson, James Garner and Morgan Gibbs-White, but the absence of Rice and Mainoo changes Tuchel's options.

That could make Croatia more interested in controlling possession than they were during the World Cup meeting. England, however, do not need long periods on the ball to be dangerous.

Kane can drop into midfield and connect play, while Saka, Gordon and other runners can attack the space behind Croatia's defensive line. For Croatia, the challenge is controlling possession without leaving themselves exposed.

Where the Match Could Be Decided

Croatia dealing with England's transitions

This was a major problem in their World Cup meeting. If Croatia push midfielders forward and lose possession, England have enough pace to attack before the defence resets. Gvardiol and the other defenders will need protection behind Croatia's midfield.

England without Declan Rice

Rice normally gives England defensive security and helps recover possession quickly. His absence could give Croatia more opportunities to play through midfield, particularly if Modrić and Kovačić are given time. England need whoever replaces Rice to protect the spaces in front of the centre-backs.

Kane dropping into midfield

Kane can create a difficult decision for Croatia's defenders. If a centre-back follows him, England's wide attackers can run into the space behind. If Croatia leave him free, Kane can turn and create. The communication between Croatia's midfield and defence will be important.

Croatia's experienced midfield

Croatia may not want this game to become another open contest like the World Cup meeting. Using Modrić, Kovačić and their other technical midfielders to slow the game and control possession could help them prevent England from repeatedly attacking in transition.

What the H2H Record Tells Me

England's seven wins from 12 meetings give them the better overall record. They have also won the last three meetings, including the 4-2 victory at the World Cup in June. But Croatia have produced important results against England before.

Their 2018 World Cup semi-final victory showed their ability to manage a high-pressure game, while the 0-0 Nations League draw later that year showed they can also make the fixture tactically tight.

For this match, I would place much more weight on the 2026 World Cup meeting than on older results. Croatia know exactly how dangerous England can be when the game becomes stretched.

Final View

For me, Croatia's main objective should be preventing this match from developing into the type of open contest England won at the World Cup. Bilić has enough midfield quality to make the game more controlled, particularly through Modrić and Kovačić.

England's injury situation may also give Croatia an opportunity. Rice, Palmer, Rashford and Mainoo are among the players unavailable, reducing Tuchel's options during a demanding four-match window. But England still have considerable attacking quality.

Kane, Bellingham and Saka give them different ways to create, and their pace in transition can punish Croatia if the hosts lose possession in bad areas. I see midfield control as the biggest tactical question.

If Croatia can slow the game, keep England away from transition situations and use their technical midfielders effectively, they can make this much tighter than the World Cup meeting.

If England regularly win the ball with space ahead of them, Croatia could face the same problems that led to four goals conceded in Dallas. With Spain and Czechia also in Group A3, this is another important direct test for two teams trying to secure a place in the Nations League quarter-finals.