The upcoming match between Croatia and England is set to take place at 23:00 on October 3, 2026, as part of the UEFA Nations League 2026/27. This encounter is particularly significant for Croatia, who are looking to avenge their defeat to England in the World Cup earlier this year.

In their previous matches in the current Nations League season, Croatia suffered a narrow 2-3 loss to Spain at home, while England secured a 2-0 victory against the Czech Republic. England's manager, Thomas Tuchel, has received mixed reviews regarding the team's performance, with concerns primarily centered around their defensive vulnerabilities. In the match against Spain, two of the three goals conceded by England were due to individual errors from their defenders, notably from the Manchester City duo. Guehi's mistake allowed Lamine Yamal to score the opening goal, and O'Reilly was also at fault for the second goal.

Another issue for England has been the form of Bukayo Saka, who has been underwhelming in both matches. His lack of effectiveness on the right flank raises concerns for Tuchel regarding the team's attacking options. However, there have been bright spots, particularly with Anthony Gordon, who has emerged as a key player for England, scoring in both matches against Spain and the Czech Republic.

On the Croatian side, they recently faced a heavy defeat against Spain and have struggled in their recent encounters with England, losing all three of their last meetings. Overall, Croatia has not won any of their last seven matches against England, with five losses. During their World Cup clash, Croatia displayed their tactical prowess by equalizing twice after falling behind, but ultimately succumbed to a 2-4 defeat due to fatigue in the second half.

England will likely have the upper hand in this matchup, given their stronger squad depth, which is crucial with the demanding schedule of the Nations League. The predicted lineups for the match are as follows:

• Croatia (4-2-3-1): Livakovic; Smolcic, Sutalo, Pongracic, Gvardiol; Misic, Kovacic; Pasalic, Sucic, Perisic; Beljo.
• England (4-2-3-1): Trafford; Alexander-Arnold, Chalobah, Guehi, Hall; Anderson, Scott; Rogers, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane.

Historically, both teams have shown a tendency to score in the first half, with 14 out of their last 20 matches featuring at least one goal before halftime. Additionally, both teams have consistently seen both sides score in their recent games. This match is expected to follow a similar pattern, with a prediction of a close scoreline of Croatia 1-2 England.