Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham Lead England's 7-0 Rout

Harry Kane scored a brace and captained England to a historic 7-0 demolition of Croatia in the Nations League on Saturday, October 4, 2026. The record-breaking victory, England's biggest ever away win, was powered by a devastating front four and saw Kane extend his national scoring record to 89 international goals.

The Three Lions were ruthless from the start in Rijeka. Kane opened the scoring in the eighth minute, controlling a Jude Bellingham pass with the outside of his boot before curling a superb finish. Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, and Anthony Gordon added first-half goals to put the game beyond doubt. Kane slid in for his second after the break before setting up Saka for another. Substitute Morgan Rogers completed the scoring late on. Manager Thomas Tuchel called the performance "very, very clinical." Kane himself noted, "They couldn’t live with our pace, our movement, our runs."

England boss Thomas Tuchel highlighted the special connection between his two superstars after the match. He said Kane and Bellingham have formed a "love" affair on the pitch and their understanding is improving all the time. Tuchel explained he adjusted their positions after the 2026 World Cup, pushing Bellingham into a more advanced role to create a fluid front four with Kane, Saka, and Gordon. "The movements and the counter-movements are on the highest level," Tuchel stated. The duo now have ten goal involvements between them in just three Nations League games this campaign.

In a separate development, a young striker has credited Kane with guiding a major career decision. Naturalized Vietnamese international Lee Oliver Grant Williams revealed that a past meeting with the England captain was instrumental in his choice to return to Vietnam. The 19-year-old, who recently debuted for Vietnam, said, "I met Harry, and he advised me to return to Vietnam, my homeland. Harry believed this would be a turning point for my personal development." Williams has since won a domestic cup and earned his first national team cap.

• Historic Win: England's 7-0 victory over Croatia is their largest ever away win.
• Record Extender: Harry Kane's double took his England goal tally to 89, further cementing his status as the nation's all-time top scorer.
• Deadly Partnership: Kane and Jude Bellingham have combined for 10 goal contributions in three Nations League matches under Tuchel's tweaked system.
• Mentor Role: Kane's past advice to a young striker played a part in that player's successful move to Vietnamese football.

The emphatic result immediately banishes any lingering disappointment from England's World Cup campaign and sets a formidable standard for their Euro 2028 qualifying group. Tuchel's tactical shift, unleashing Bellingham closer to Kane, appears to have unlocked a new level of attacking potency for the national side.