Opinions, analysis and commentary
Harry Kane and Anthony Gordon carry England’s hopes in Rijeka, while Luka Modrić and Ivan Perišić keep Croatia dangerous. England are without Declan Rice, Kobbie Mainoo and Cole Palmer, which hands the spotlight to forwards and one 41-year-old playmaker on the other side. Group A3 is tight, with Spain on six points and England and Croatia level on three. Both sides need points to stay within reach of Spain. Kick-off on Saturday, 3 October, is 4 pm GMT at Stadion HNK Rijeka, or 10 pm in Bangladesh.
England lost 3-2 to Spain before beating ten-man Czechia 2-0. Croatia beat Czechia 2-1, then lost 4-1 in Seville. The table below shows who matters most for each side. Neither side can afford a slip in Group A3, because a defeat on Saturday would leave the loser chasing Spain from a distance. England have scored four goals in two games, Croatia three.
| Player | Team | Recent form | Key stat |
| Harry Kane | England | Scored vs Spain, Czechia | Two goals vs Croatia in June |
| Anthony Gordon | England | Scored in both games | Goals in 36th, 47th minutes |
| Trent Alexander-Arnold | England | First start in two years | Assist for Gordon |
| Luka Modrić | Croatia | Scored vs Czechia | Oldest Croatia scorer, 41 |
| Ivan Perišić | Croatia | Assisted Pašalić, Beljo | Assisted Musa in June |
Anthony Gordon has scored in both games, in the 36th minute against Spain and the 47th against Czechia. Harry Kane has too, heading in Nico O’Reilly’s cross against Spain and finishing low in the 69th minute against Czechia. He also slipped and hit the bar with a penalty against Spain.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, making his first start in over two years, crossed for Gordon, and Morgan Rogers hit the post and helped create Kane’s goal. One caution: Czechia’s Pavel Šulc was sent off in the 25th minute, so England had over an hour against ten men.
That pairing should worry Croatia. Kane’s penalty miss against Spain did not slow him, and Gordon’s goals came from different routes: a counter-attack with Jude Bellingham, who also won the penalty, and a header from Alexander-Arnold’s cross.
Modrić struck in the 47th minute in Prague at 41, making him Croatia’s oldest goalscorer, even though a fever nearly ruled him out. It was Slaven Bilić’s first match back in charge. Ivan Perišić matters just as much. He crossed for Marco Pašalić’s 77th-minute winner against Czechia and for Dion Beljo’s 28th-minute goal in Seville. Petar Sučić, Luka Sučić and Matanović also created first-half chances in Prague.
Beyond the veteran, Croatia’s threat is shared out among several players, which makes them harder to plan against than an attack built around one finisher. Beljo scored in Seville despite a 4-1 defeat, so Croatia keep creating even when a match slips.
The FA confirmed five England withdrawals on 21 September: Rice, Mainoo, Palmer, Marcus Rashford and Tino Livramento. James Garner and Morgan Gibbs-White were called up in their place. Three of the five are midfielders, which leaves Elliot Anderson and Myles Lewis-Skelly, who both started against Czechia, in the engine room. Nico O’Reilly, who missed the Czechia game with a muscle problem, is doubtful.
The cost is greatest in midfield, where England have lost three players who would normally control the tempo, so Anderson and Lewis-Skelly must handle Modrić without that cover. Croatia are without Martin Erlić and Josip Juranović. Josip Stanišić missed the Spain match with a viral infection, and his availability for Saturday is uncertain.
Kane is the clearest answer. He has scored in both group games and twice against Croatia in the 4-2 World Cup win in Dallas on 17 June, where Jude Bellingham and Rashford also scored. Rashford is now absent, which makes Gordon England’s second threat. For Croatia, Modrić sets the tempo, Perišić supplies the delivery and Beljo finishes. Martin Baturina and Petar Musa scored against England in June, with Perišić assisting Musa.
England have scored twice in each group game, but if their makeshift midfield cannot press Modrić, Croatia will create again. That is why the Croatia vs England Nations League 2026 key players list starts with Kane and ends with a 41-year-old who still sets the pace.
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Who is injured for England vs Croatia?
England are without Rice, Mainoo, Palmer, Rashford and Livramento, and Nico O’Reilly is doubtful with a muscle problem. Croatia are missing Martin Erlić and Josip Juranović, and Josip Stanišić is uncertain after a viral infection.
Is Harry Kane playing against Croatia?
Kane is expected to lead England’s attack, as he has no reported injury. He scored against both Spain and Czechia in the group and netted twice against Croatia in June.
Who scored for England against Czechia?
Anthony Gordon scored in the 47th minute, and Harry Kane added a second in the 69th minute. Gordon headed in Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross in a 2-0 win in Prague, played mostly against ten men.
Who are Croatia’s best players right now?
Luka Modrić, Ivan Perišić and Dion Beljo lead Croatia on current form. Mateo Kovačić and Joško Gvardiol remain the established pillars, while Modrić scored against Czechia at 41 in the win.
Which England players withdrew from the Nations League squad?
Declan Rice, Kobbie Mainoo, Cole Palmer, Marcus Rashford and Tino Livramento all withdrew. The FA confirmed the five exits on 21 September and called up James Garner and Morgan Gibbs-White as replacements.
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