Two European football heavyweights prepare to reignite their international rivalry as Croatia play host to England at the Rujevica Stadium in Rijeka for Matchday 3 of the UEFA Nations League 2026-27 season. With both sides experiencing a mixed opening to their Group A3 campaign, Saturday’s fixture presents a crucial opportunity for either nation to establish momentum in a exceptionally competitive group.
The encounter will feature a compelling battle of leadership and experience on the pitch. England captain Harry Kane, who continues to perform at the highest level in European club football, will lead the line for the Three Lions against a Croatian side orchestrated by their evergreen skipper Luka Modric. At 41 years old, Modric remains the central figure in Croatia’s midfield, defying age to remain vital for both club and country.
With kickoff scheduled for Saturday, October 3, at 6:00 pm local time (16:00 GMT), both teams enter the fixture seeking consistency after a start that has produced one victory and one defeat apiece.
The State of Play in Group A3
Group A3 has quickly proven to be one of the most demanding pools in League A of the UEFA Nations League. Featuring reigning world champions Spain alongside minnows Czechia, the group leaves very little room for error for either Croatia or England.
Both side’s campaign statistics mirror each other on paper, with three points accumulated from their opening two fixtures. However, their respective paths to this point have highlighted both encouraging attacking potential and defensive areas requiring attention.
Croatia opened their campaign on a positive note with a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Czechia in Prague. However, their momentum was abruptly halted in their subsequent fixture when they suffered a humbling 4-1 defeat at the hands of world champions Spain in Seville. That loss exposed vulnerabilities in the Croatian backline that coach Zlatko Dalic will be desperate to fix ahead of England’s visit.
England’s trajectory has followed a reverse pattern. The Three Lions began their campaign with a dramatic 3-2 defeat against Spain in London, falling just short against the world champions despite a spirited display. They rebounded effectively in their second fixture, travelling to Prague to secure a comfortable 2-0 victory against a 10-man Czechia side.
As a result, both sides enter Matchday 3 acutely aware that a second defeat in three games could severely compromise their chances of topping the group or securing a favorable position heading into the remaining fixtures.
Veterans and In-Form Stars in the Spotlight
Saturday’s fixture brings together a fascinating mix of established international legends and in-form attackers enjoying exceptional club campaigns.
Luka Modric and Ivan Perisic (Croatia)
For Croatia, the primary narrative continues to center around the astonishing longevity of captain Luka Modric. At 41 years old, the maestro remains the undisputed heartbeat of the Croatian midfield. Far from being a peripheral figure, Modric demonstrated his enduring quality by scoring the crucial opening goal in Croatia’s 2-1 away victory over Czechia in Prague. His ability to dictate the tempo of international matches, maintain composure under intense pressure, and execute precise line-breaking passes remains pivotal to Croatia’s tactical approach.
Complementing Modric’s central influence is veteran winger Ivan Perisic, who continues to be one of Croatia’s most reliable creators on the big stage. Perisic has been directly instrumental in his side’s attacking output during this campaign, bagging back-to-back assists in their opening two Nations League matches. His delivery from wide areas and spatial awareness will present a constant threat to England’s full-backs.
Harry Kane and Anthony Gordon (England)
England’s offensive blueprint in recent matches has relied heavily on an increasingly effective partnership between Anthony Gordon and captain Harry Kane. Across their last two international outings, England have established a distinct pattern: Gordon opens the scoring, and Kane follows suit.
While that combination was not quite enough to prevent a narrow 3-2 defeat to Spain at Wembley, it proved decisive in the 2-0 win over Czechia in Prague. The statistical profiles of both players reflect their current rich vein of form. Gordon has carried his impressive domestic momentum into the international arena, having already registered five assists for Barcelona this season. His pace and direct running down the flank provide the perfect service for Kane, who has been in clinical form for Bayern Munich, racking up six goals already this term.
If England are to secure three points in Rijeka, the continued synergy between Gordon’s wide creativity and Kane’s relentless finishing will be essential.
Head-to-Head History and Recent Clash
The competitive history between Croatia and England has produced several memorable international battles over the past two decades, ranging from high-stakes tournament knockout games to dramatic qualifying encounters.
Their most recent encounter occurred on the global stage at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Meeting in a high-scoring group stage fixture on June 17 in Arlington, Texas, England emerged victorious in a thrilling 4-2 contest. Harry Kane led the way for the Three Lions on that afternoon, scoring a brace, while Marcus Rashford and Jude Bellingham added a goal apiece to seal a memorable win.
That six-goal spectacle highlighted the attacking flair present in both squads while reinforcing England’s recent edge in the head-to-head record. However, playing on home soil in Rijeka, Croatia will view Saturday’s match as an ideal opportunity to avenge that World Cup setback and re-establish their home dominant form.
In terms of overall recent form across all competitions, both teams possess similar records from their previous five outings:
- Croatia Form: L-W-L-W-W
- England Form: W-L-W-L-W
Understanding the Nations League Context
The UEFA Nations League was officially introduced by European football’s governing body in 2018. Designed primarily to replace international friendly matches with competitive, meaningful fixtures, the tournament structure provides nations with regular competitive matches against similarly ranked opponents across the continent.
Operating on a league system featuring promotion and relegation across four tiers (Leagues A through D), the competition offers high stakes in every window. Teams competing in League A—such as Croatia, England, Spain, and Czechia—are not only competing for the title of Nations League champions but are also seeking to maintain their top-tier status while honing their tactical setups against elite competition ahead of major international tournaments.
Team News and Availability
Both managers face selection considerations brought about by injuries and illness ahead of Saturday’s clash in Rijeka.
Croatia Squad News
Croatia will be forced to reshape their defensive unit due to key absentees. Centre-back Martin Erlic remains sidelined with an injury that is expected to keep him out of action until mid-October. Additionally, right-back Josip Juranovic has been ruled out of the fixture as he continues to recover from illness.
These absences mean coach Zlatko Dalic will likely lean on younger defensive options alongside established stars like Manchester City defender Josko Gvardiol.
- Probable Croatia Lineup (4-2-3-1): Dominik Livakovic; Josip Stanisic, Luka Vuskovic, Josko Gvardiol, Ivan Perisic; Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic; Luka Sucic, Petar Sucic, Franjo Ivanovic; Dion Beljo.
England Squad News
England’s squad remains relatively healthy, though they will be without left-back Nico O’Reilly. The defender was forced to withdraw from the national team camp after sustaining an injury prior to the international break.
With O’Reilly unavailable, Lewis Hall is expected to occupy the left-back position, operating in a backline that features Trent Alexander-Arnold, Trevoh Chalobah, and Marc Guehi protecting goalkeeper James Trafford. In midfield, Elliot Anderson and Miles Lewis-Skelly are slated to provide the central foundation behind an adventurous attacking quarter.
- Probable England Lineup (4-2-3-1): James Trafford; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Trevoh Chalobah, Marc Guehi, Lewis Hall; Elliot Anderson, Miles Lewis-Skelly; Bukayo Saka, Morgan Rogers, Anthony Gordon; Harry Kane.
Match Details and Coverage
Saturday’s Group A3 fixture between Croatia and England will take place at the Rujevica Stadium in Rijeka, Croatia.
- Match: Croatia vs England
- Tournament: UEFA Nations League 2026-27 (Group A3)
- Date: Saturday, October 3, 2026
- Kick-off Time: 18:00 Local Time (16:00 GMT)
- Live Coverage: Build-up coverage and live updates will be accessible globally via major international sports networks, with Al Jazeera Sport providing pre-match analysis starting from 13:00 GMT. Official regional television broadcast details can be found via UEFA’s official broadcasting partner portal.