What’s happening in Rijeka
Croatia host England on Saturday evening in Group A3 of the UEFA Nations League, with kick-off at UEFA Nations League headquarters confirming a 5pm start in Ireland and the UK. Croatia vs England is due to kick off at 5pm BST on Saturday 3 October at the HNK Rijeka Stadium.
It is the first meeting between the two since their group-stage clash at this summer’s World Cup, and the third round of fixtures in what has become one of the toughest sections in this season’s competition alongside Spain and Czechia.
Why the ground will be almost empty
Unusually for a game of this stature, there will be next to no atmosphere inside the stadium. This game is being played behind closed doors because of crowd trouble involving Croatia fans during a Nations League match against France in March 2025.
The Croatian federation has not been able to avoid the sanction, and the only exception made is for a small travelling contingent. After a petition from the FA, only 100 England fans will be allowed in overall to watch.
Team news and probable line-ups
Thomas Tuchel has selection headaches at both ends of the pitch, though his squad remains well stocked after Tuesday’s win in Prague. Cole Palmer, Declan Rice and Marcus Rashford remain out having withdrawn from the squad at the start of the international break. There is also a doubt over the left-back berth, as Nico O'Reilly is doubtful after missing the game against Czechia on Tuesday night.
Croatia
Slaven Bilic is expected to recall his most experienced names after a chastening defeat to Spain in the previous round. Expect Luka Vuskovic and Luka Modric to return to the Croatia starting line-up on Saturday. The Croatian captain remains central to the side’s hopes even at an advanced age, with talismanic midfielder Luka Modrić still going strong at 41 years old set to orchestrate things from midfield. Defensively, Bilic is without two regulars, as Croatia are set to be without all of Josip Juranovic and Martin Erlic, who both pulled out of the squad last week due to injury.
England
Tuchel is likely to make changes after the professional, if unspectacular, win over 10-man Czechia, with several fringe players pushing for involvement. The emphasis will again be on a settled defensive block protecting a front line built around Harry Kane and Anthony Gordon, both of whom scored in that win away to Czechia.
Form and history favour the Three Lions
Despite the absence of fans, the occasion carries genuine weight in the group table. Tuchel's side bounced back from a defeat to Spain in their Nations League opener as they produced a professional performance against 10-man opposition on Tuesday, a result that leaves them second in Group A3, level on points with Saturday’s opponents.
History also leans England’s way heading into Rijeka. England have faced Croatia on 12 occasions and emerged victorious last time out as they won 4-2 in the 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage, with the Three Lions holding seven wins, two draws and three defeats in those meetings. Croatia’s last win in the fixture remains the famous World Cup semi-final of 2018.
What comes next in the group
Whatever happens in Rijeka, there is no time to dwell on it, with the two nations reconvening in the coming weeks as the group reaches its conclusion. England host Czechia on Tuesday 6 October before this fixture repeats itself at Wembley on 12 November, with Spain away to England on 15 November closing out the campaign.
For followers of this edition, the stakes in Group A3 echo those closer to home, where the Republic of Ireland face a daunting test of their own against Austria in the same competition. England’s away form has been a quiet highlight of their campaign so far, and a positive result in Croatia would extend an impressive run on the road while also avenging the manner of their earlier defeat to Spain at Wembley.