England hammered Croatia 7-0 in Rijeka, and the question of who was the best player on the pitch is an easy one to settle. Harry Kane scored three goals, Jude Bellingham scored one and assisted two, and Bukayo Saka scored twice. The team utterly dominated the match from start to finish.
The result was one of England’s best performances in recent times, according to the BBC’s match report. The goals came in waves: Kane opened the scoring, Bellingham, Anthony Gordon and Saka added before half-time, Kane scored again early in the second half, Saka got his second from close range, and substitute Morgan Rogers sealed the win with a composed finish for the seventh goal.
Kane’s Three Goals
Kane was the captain and the main finisher. His first goal put England firmly in control, and his second, scored in the second half, made the win virtually impossible for Croatia to fight back against. The report notes that Kane’s goal put England firmly in control, and his second goal early in the second half secured the win. He also set up Bellingham for England’s second goal, showing the range of his vision as well as his finishing touch.
The report describes him as the main finisher whose goal put England firmly in control. His second goal early in the second half secured the win, and his assist for Bellingham showed his passing range.
Bellingham’s World-Class Performance
Bellingham was the best player on the pitch. He produced a lovely pass to thread Kane through for the first goal, scored England’s second and assisted Saka for England’s fourth. His quality was too much for Croatia throughout the game, and the report gives him a rating of nine out of ten.
The report describes him as a truly world-class player whose quality was too much for Croatia throughout the game. His ability to find the right pass at the right moment, combined with his goal-scoring instinct, made him the standout performer of the night.
Saka’s Double and Missed Chance
Saka scored twice and looks to be building a good partnership with Quansah on England’s right-hand side. He could have had a hat-trick but missed a big chance in the second half. The report gives him an eight out of ten.
His second goal came from close range after Kane’s fifth, and he showed his finishing instincts once again. The report notes that Saka could have had a hat-trick but missed a big chance in the second half.
The Back Four Holds Up
England’s defence was solid throughout the match. Jordan Pickford made a good decision and save when he raced out and won the ball at the feet of Ivan Perisic early on, though he was lucky not to concede with Mateo Kovacic’s incredible miss.
Jarell Quansah was surprisingly chosen at right-back over Trent Alexander-Arnold, but the Bayer Leverkusen defender does exactly what manager Thomas Tuchel wants. He is a powerful runner, a good defender and his ability on the ball is underrated, as shown by his quality assist for Gordon.
Ezri Konsa had a calm, assured performance despite not having much defending to do as England pinned Croatia back. Marc Guehi took up some risky positions as England pressed man for man all over the pitch, showing his willingness to commit to the team’s aggressive approach.
Lewis Hall, the Newcastle left-back, offered pace going forward and underlapped, going into midfield to receive the ball. The report notes that Hall looks a great addition to the England back four.
Midfield Control
Elliot Anderson has been excellent throughout this international break and produced another mature performance. The Manchester City midfielder is a crucial part of the midfield and set up Kane for England’s fifth goal.
Alex Scott was given his first England start and put in a really confident performance. The Bournemouth midfielder always looked to get on the ball and did not just try to keep it safe as England dominated.
Substitutes Keep the Momentum
Eberechi Eze came on as a number 10 at the hour mark and played a decent role, though the report gives him a six out of ten. James Garner came on to replace Alex Scott and provided some strong challenges, keeping things simple in midfield.
Morgan Rogers came on for Kane and produced a composed finish for England’s seventh goal, rounding the keeper when played through on goal. Morgan Gibbs-White and Myles Lewis-Skelly also came on as substitutes, but neither was given a rating in the report.
The substitutes not used were Steele, Trafford, Alexander-Arnold, Branthwaite, Calvert-Lewin, Chalobah and Ngumoha.
The Match Ratings
BBC Sport reporter Alex Howell rated each player based on their performance in the match. The ratings reflect how the team performed overall, with the best performers getting the highest scores.
| Player | Position | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Jordan Pickford | Goalkeeper | 6 |
| Jarell Quansah | Right-back | 8 |
| Ezri Konsa | Centre-back | 7 |
| Marc Guehi | Centre-back | 7 |
| Lewis Hall | Left-back | 7 |
| Elliot Anderson | Midfielder | 8 |
| Alex Scott | Midfielder | 7 |
| Jude Bellingham | Midfielder | 9 |
| Bukayo Saka | Winger | 8 |
| Harry Kane | Striker | 9 |
Key Facts From The Match
- England won 7-0 in Rijeka
- Harry Kane scored three goals
- Jude Bellingham scored one and assisted two
- Bukayo Saka scored twice
- Morgan Rogers added the seventh goal as a substitute
- The match was described as one of England’s best performances in recent times
The 7-0 scoreline tells you everything you need to know about this match. England were clinical in front of goal and dominant everywhere else. The team moved the ball with confidence, created chances at will and defended with composure when necessary.
Kane’s three goals were the highlight of the night, but Bellingham’s all-round display was the reason England were able to score so freely. His pass to Kane for the opener showed his vision, his goal for England’s second showed his finishing instincts, and his assist for Saka for England’s fourth showed his ability to create for others.
The partnership between Saka and Quansah on the right-hand side is developing into a genuine threat. Saka’s link-up play with Quansah suggests this combination could become a fixture of England’s attacking plans.
The midfield pairing of Anderson and Scott provided stability and creativity in equal measure. Anderson’s set-up for Kane’s fifth goal showed his understanding of the game, while Scott’s willingness to take risks with the ball demonstrated the kind of freedom Tuchel has encouraged in this squad.
The defensive unit was solid throughout, even when Pickford was lucky not to concede with Kovacic’s incredible miss. The report notes that Pickford made a good decision and save when he raced out and won the ball at the feet of Perisic early on, though he was lucky not to concede with Kovacic’s incredible miss.
The substitutes also did their jobs, with Rogers rounding the keeper for England’s seventh goal in composed fashion. Rogers’ composed finish sealed the win.
The only real concern was Saka’s missed chance in the second half, which denied him a hat-trick. That aside, the performance was as complete as anything England have produced in recent memory.
England’s dominance was total. They scored at will, defended comfortably and showed the kind of cohesion that has often been missing from this squad in previous tournaments. The result was never in doubt after Kane’s opener.
The question of who was the best player on the pitch is settled. Bellingham was the best player on the pitch, and his performance deserves the recognition. The report’s nine out of ten rating for him reflects what everyone watching saw: a midfielder who controlled the game from start to finish, dictating tempo and finding space when it mattered most.
Source material: “Who was the best player on the pitch? – England player ratings,” the BBC.
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