Croatia vs England Prediction and LiveScore – UEFA Nations League Match Today

By trendy news | October 3, 2026 | https://trendynews.space

Croatia and England meet today in a high-stakes UEFA Nations League Group A3 fixture at Stadion Rujevica in Rijeka. Kick-off is scheduled for 17:00 BST (16:00 GMT, 18:00 local time) on Saturday, October 3, 2026. Both sides sit on three points after two matches and will look to close the gap on group leaders Spain.

Croatia vs England Match Details and LiveScore Guide

The match forms part of the 2026-27 UEFA Nations League League A campaign. Croatia host England at the compact Stadion HNK Rijeka, a venue that will be largely empty due to a UEFA stadium ban linked to earlier crowd disturbances. Only a limited number of England supporters have been granted entry.

Fans seeking Croatia vs England LiveScore can follow official UEFA channels, major sports platforms, and broadcasters such as ITV1 in the United Kingdom. Coverage typically begins around 45 minutes before kick-off, with live text and graphical updates available across multiple apps and websites once the game starts.

Current Group Standing and Recent Form

Spain lead Group A3 with six points from two wins. England and Croatia both have three points, while Czechia sit on zero. England opened with a 3-2 home defeat to Spain before recovering with a 2-0 victory over ten-man Czechia in Prague. Croatia began with a 2-1 win away to Czechia but then suffered a heavy 4-1 loss to Spain in Seville.

England’s recent overall form shows a mix of strong attacking displays and occasional defensive lapses. Croatia have shown resilience at home in competitive fixtures but have struggled for consistency against top opposition this campaign.

Head to Head Football Stats

England hold a clear historical advantage over Croatia. Across 12 previous meetings, England have recorded seven wins, Croatia three, and two matches have ended in draws. England have scored 26 goals to Croatia’s 15 in those encounters.

The most recent meeting came at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on June 17 in Arlington, Texas. England won 4-2, with Harry Kane scoring twice, Jude Bellingham adding one, and Marcus Rashford completing the scoring. Croatia replied through Martin Baturina and Petar Musa.

Other notable recent results include England’s 1-0 victory over Croatia at Euro 2020 and a 2-1 Nations League win in 2018. Croatia’s last victory against England remains the famous 2-1 World Cup semi-final triumph in 2018. Since that night, England have gone unbeaten in four meetings (three wins and one draw).

Team News and Expected Line-ups

Croatia are without centre-back Martin Erlic through injury and right-back Josip Juranovic due to illness. Luka Modric is expected to start after being rested against Spain. Josip Stanisic is likely to return at right-back, with young defender Luka Vuskovic continuing in central defence alongside Josko Gvardiol. Ivan Perisic remains a key creative outlet on the left.

England will be without left-back Nico O’Reilly, who withdrew from the squad with injury. Lewis Hall is expected to fill that role. Goalkeeping duties continue to be shared between Jordan Pickford and James Trafford. Jude Bellingham is set to return to the starting eleven after featuring from the bench against Czechia. Harry Kane leads the line, supported by Bukayo Saka and Anthony Gordon in the attacking positions.

Probable Croatia starting shape is a 4-2-3-1 featuring Dominik Livakovic in goal, a midfield pair of Modric and Mateo Kovacic, and a forward line built around available attacking options such as Luka Sucic, Petar Sucic and Dion Beljo or similar.

England are also expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1, with Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back, a central defensive pairing likely involving Marc Guehi, and a midfield that balances defensive solidity with progressive passing.

Croatia vs England Prediction

England enter the match as favourites according to most pre-match assessments. Opta’s model has given the Three Lions approximately a 48 percent chance of victory, with Croatia around 27 percent and the draw near 24 percent. Bookmakers largely agree, pricing England shorter than the hosts.

Key factors supporting an England win include superior recent head-to-head results, greater depth in attacking talent, and the momentum gained from the victory in Prague. Croatia’s home advantage is reduced by the empty stadium and defensive absences.

An open contest is anticipated. Six goals were scored in the World Cup meeting four months ago, and both teams have produced high-scoring games in the Nations League already. A scoreline in the region of 1-2 or 1-3 in favour of England appears the most probable outcome. Both teams to score is also a strong possibility given the attacking quality on both sides.

Harry Kane’s record against Croatia and his current form make him a likely candidate to feature on the scoresheet. Luka Modric’s experience and ability to control tempo remain Croatia’s main route to creating chances.

How to Follow Croatia vs England LiveScore Today

For real-time Croatia vs England LiveScore updates, supporters can use official UEFA live match centres, major sports websites, and mobile applications that provide minute-by-minute scores, goal alerts, and basic statistics. Television coverage in the UK is scheduled on ITV1, with radio commentary available on BBC Radio 5 Live and talkSPORT.

International audiences can check local listings for beIN Sports, Sony Sports Network, ViX, FuboTV and other regional broadcasters depending on territory. Kick-off times convert to 12:00 ET in the United States and corresponding evening slots across Asia and Australia.

What This Match Means for the Group

A victory for either side would move them within touching distance of Spain and strengthen their position ahead of the remaining fixtures. England host Czechia later in the window, while Croatia face Spain at home. Points dropped today could leave either team under pressure to secure results in tougher remaining matches.

England under Thomas Tuchel continue to build consistency after a mixed start to the Nations League. Croatia, managed by Slaven Bilic, will rely on the leadership of Modric and the defensive organisation of Gvardiol to frustrate the visitors and capitalise on any set-piece opportunities.

Final Preview Summary

Croatia vs England today offers a compelling mix of recent rivalry, contrasting form, and clear stakes within Group A3. England’s superior head-to-head record and attacking options make them slight favourites, yet Croatia’s competitive edge in major tournaments means the hosts cannot be discounted.

Follow the Croatia vs England LiveScore from kick-off for the latest updates, and check back for full post-match analysis once the final whistle blows at Stadion Rujevica. This fixture forms another chapter in a competitive modern rivalry that has produced memorable moments at both World Cups and Nations League level.