England Set to Host Croatia in UEFA Nations League Showdown
England returns to Wembley on Thursday to aim for a place in the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals as they face Croatia. Thomas Tuchel’s squad needs just one point from their final two group matches to secure advancement, whereas Croatia arrives under significant pressure following three straight losses. Additionally, Harry Kane is poised to reach a major personal milestone.
Match Preview: England vs Croatia
Following a disappointing opening 3-2 defeat to Spain, England has bounced back with three impressive victories. Among these was a 3-0 win over Czechia and a remarkable 7-0 victory against Croatia in their previous encounter last month. With 14 goals scored and a goal difference of +11, the Three Lions have emerged as the most prolific team in the competition.
Sitting second in Group A3 with nine points, England trails leaders Spain by three points. A draw at Wembley would ensure their progression to the quarter-finals, although Tuchel’s team can still aim for the top spot when they meet Spain on Sunday.
Conversely, Croatia has struggled in their campaign. After a promising start with a 2-1 win over Czechia, Slaven Bilic’s side has since faced two defeats to Spain, along with the heavy loss to England, leaving them with only three points and a goal difference of -10. They now face a tough road to keep their quarter-final hopes alive.
England has the edge, having won their last four matchups against Croatia, including the historic 7-0 win in Rijeka.
Team News: Historic Night for Harry Kane
Harry Kane is expected to lead the team at Wembley as he prepares for his 126th international appearance, which would see him become the most-capped player in England men’s history, surpassing Peter Shilton. The Bayern Munich striker arrives with an impressive tally of 91 goals for his country and is also the reigning Ballon d’Or winner.
Tuchel faces some defensive choices, with Myles Lewis-Skelly suspended, Marc Guehi dropping out due to injury, and Ezri Konsa unavailable for Thursday’s match. Dan Burn has joined the squad, and Bournemouth’s James Hill is also called up, while Cole Palmer has not been selected.
Uncapped players Josh King, James Hill, and Jobe Bellingham could be new additions, though Tuchel is likely to focus on securing qualification rather than making significant lineup changes.
Croatia’s Challenges: Luka Modric at the Helm
Luka Modric continues as the captain of Croatia and is set to make his 207th international appearance at the age of 41. The experienced midfielder will be key to Bilic’s hopes of recovering from their past performance against England.
However, Croatia will miss Ivan Perisic, who is suspended after receiving a red card against Spain. Injuries have ruled Josip Sutalo, Martin Pongracic, Andrej Kramaric, Franjo Ivanovic, and Kristijan Jakic out of contention for the match. Dominik Livakovic is expected to take the goalkeeping duties.
Probable Lineups
England (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Quansah, Hill, Burn, Hall; Rice, Anderson; Ngumoha, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane.
Croatia (4-2-3-1): Livakovic; Stanisic, Vuskovic, Caleta-Car, Gvardiol; Modric, Kovacic; Vlasic, Pasalic, Baturina; Budimir.
Viewing Information for England vs Croatia
| Region | Broadcaster |
|---|---|
| USA | fuboTV PPV (English), ViX (Spanish) |
| Canada | DAZN |
| UK | ITV 1 |
| Australia | beIN Sports 2 |
| Croatia | NOVA TV |
The match kicks off at 7:45 p.m. GMT (2:45 p.m. ET) at Wembley Stadium on Thursday, November 12.
