England will look to make it back-to-back wins as they travel to Croatia to face Luka Modric and Co. in the Nations League on Saturday.
After defeat to Spain in their opening game of their Nations League campaign, Thomas Tuchel's side bounced back with a 2-0 win over Czechia courtesy of second-half goals from Anthony Gordon and Harry Kane.
Croatia come into the game in the exact same position as England, having beaten Czechia 2-1 in their opening game but lost 4-1 to Spain in their second.
After going behind to an early Lamine Yamal goal, Dion Beljo got Croatia back on level terms just before the half-hour mark. But Marc Pubill's first international goal, a second for Yamal and a late finish from Nico Williams ultimately gave Spain a comfortable victory.
Saturday's game will be played in an almost entirely empty stadium as a result of crowd disturbances during Croatia's Nations League quarterfinal against France in March 2025.
Here's everything you need to know about the match.
How to watch:
The match will be available to watch on ITV 1 in the UK. It will be shown in Australia on beIN Sports, in India on Sony Sports Network, and on FuboTV and ViX in the U.S. Kickoff is at 7:45 p.m. BST. You can also follow live updates with ESPN.
Key Details:
Date, kick-off time:
UK BST: Saturday, Oct. 3, 5 p.m.
U.S. ET: Saturday, Oct. 3, 12 p.m.
India IST: Saturday, Oct. 3, 9.30 p.m.
Australia AEST: Sunday, Oct. 3, 2 a.m.
Venue: Stadion HNK Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
Referee: Sven Jablonski VAR: Christian Dingert
Referee: Sven Jablonski
VAR: Christian Dingert
Injury and Team News
It remains to be seen whether Nico O'Reilly, who missed the 2-0 win over Czechia, will be fit enough to return to the England squad. Following that game, Tuchel said the staff "will try everything" to ensure the Manchester City man is available for selection.
Ezri Konsa was also doubt for the game against Czechia but did make the bench, and could be in line for minutes on Saturday.
Cole Palmer, Declan Rice and Marcus Rashford remain out having withdrawn from the squad at the start of the international break.
Martin Erlic, D, injury: OUT
Josip Juranovic, D, injury: OUT
Tino Livramento, D, injury: OUT
Nico O'Reilly, D, injury: DOUBT
Kobbie Mainoo, M, injury: OUT
Cole Palmer, M, injury: OUT
Declan Rice, M, injury: OUT
Marcus Rashford, F, injury: OUT
Expected lineups
Croatia predicted XI (4-2-3-1)
Hrvoje Smolcic, Luka Vuskovic, Josip Sutalo, Josko Gvardiol
Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic
Marco Pasalic, Petar Sucic, Ivan Perisic
England predicted XI (4-2-3-1)
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Marc Guéhi, Jarrad Branthwaite, Lewis Hall
Elliot Anderson, Myles Lewis-Skelly
Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham, Anthony Gordon
Harry Kane
Talking points
Can Trent Alexander-Arnold continue an unlikely comeback?
Alexander-Arnold's time at Real Madrid so far has been disappointing. Having left Liverpool in acrimonious circumstances, he initially struggled with injury and now, under José Mourinho, appears to be playing second fiddle to Denzel Dumfries.
That is why many were surprised to see him included in Tuchel's squad for these Nations League fixtures. But the 27-year-old impressed in the win over Czechia, assisting Gordon with a glorious cross in behind the opposition defence. It was the kind of delivery so few players in world football can play, but Alexander-Arnold has made that kind of thing his trademark over the last near-decade.
Alexander-Arnold said he hoped his good performance would help him stay in the manager's thinking. Another on Saturday -- against a much better opponent -- would only strengthen his case.
Will the strange atmosphere dampen the occasion?
Saturday's match will be played with no Croatia fans and only 100 England supporters in attendance. The decision was made by UEFA as a result of crowd trouble during Croatia's Nations League quarterfinal encounter with France last year.
It is the second time in eight years that a Nations League game between Croatia and England will be played behind closed doors at Stadion HNK Rijeka, after fans were banned from attending in 2018 due to a swastika having been marked on the pitch during a game against Italy prior to that.
That Croatia-England game in 2018 -- a 0-0 draw -- was notably lacking in on-pitch action. The Three Lions' last game behind closed doors, following the disorder at the Euro 2020 final, was also a 0-0 draw, against Italy.
Will Tuchel's side be able to block out the (lack of) noise? Or are we set for another drab affair?