By Kehinde-Hassan Afolabi
England’s Black stars turned Croatia’s anti-racism punishment into a historic footballing statement, inspiring a record-breaking 7-0 humiliation in Rijeka.
If God has a way of saying “no to racism”, then HE has just used England to passed judgement on Croatia.
On a night UEFA decided their fans served their one-game stadium ban punishment imposed by UEFA following racist and discriminatory fan behaviour during last year’s quarter-finals, the Vatreni endured a historic humbling in Rijeka, and at the heart of it, Black players.
It wasn’t like Croatia had the records against England, but they have at least made it as uncomfortable as can be, even in their most recent meeting at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where they lost 4-2.
Due to the stadium ban, the match was due to played behind closed doors, meaning no fans are allowed to attend the game — however, the Stadion HNK was nearly 75 per cent full.
Up to 6,100 spectators, made of 100 England fans, who are joined by thousands of young Croatia fans due to an exception that states children up to the age of 14 (duly accompanied) from schools and/or football academies can be invited to the match free of charge.
The children, who came from football academies across Croatia, and from schools in the Rijeka area, left the stadium with a big lesson that discrimination has no room, not just in football, but the world.
A sorry night for Croatian football
As if being penalized for an unacceptable behavior wasn’t enough, Croatia were made to suffer in front of their next generation as England inflicted their worst ever defeat.
But they were not alone left in awe of the outcome of the game, because for England themselves, it was their biggest margin win against a nation ranked in the top 50 of the FIFA World Rankings since 1992.
Black players also seized the opportunity, made the game their own, and delivered a strong message with their abilities.
Jude Bellingham alone was directly involved in four of of the seven goals, scoring one and recording a hat-trick of assists.
It made the Real Madrid man the first midfielder to contribute four goals in a game for the Three Lions since David Platt, who scored four against San Marino in February 1993.
The 23-year-old got England rolling inside the opening eight minutes, setting up captain Harry Kane with a brilliant pass to break the deadlock.
He then turned goalscorer at the end of the first quarter, reacting very quickly to Anthony Gordon’s pass to give the visitors a cushion.
Jarell Quansah, another Black player, set up Anthony Gordon for England’s third as the Barcelona man continued his scoring run in the UEFA Nations League with a 39th minute header.
Jude Bellingham registered his second assist of the night just before halftime, setting up Bukayo Saka, another Black player, with a low cross to make 4-0 heading into the interval.
Before Saturday night, Croatia had never conceded five goals in a home game, but a brilliant team move by England, involving Saka and Elliot Anderson ended up with Harry Kane getting his second eight minutes after the restart.
Croatia’s night went from bad to worse at the start of the final quarter, as Josip Stanisic, in an attempt to switch play, found Saka in his own box with a stray pass, and the Arsenal winger managed a quick exchange with Kane before turning a shot home for his second.
The goal not only took him two ahead of David Beckham for England in 56 fewer games, it also equaled Croatia’s biggest defeat, which came in the hands of Spain in November 2018, also in the Nations League.
Bellingham the capped off a brilliant individual evening with his third assist for Morgan Rogers’s goal for 7-0, and in doing so, became the first England player to register a hat-trick of assists since Trent Alexander-Arnold against San Marino in November 2021.
A horrendous night ended with Croatia’s heaviest defeat, and their only shot on target didn’t came until the first minute of added time, a tame shot from Ivan Perisic that failed to trouble Jordan Pickford.
At full-time, the lesson left for those kids will only be that no man is less because of his colour.
On an evening when Croatia’s punishment for discriminatory behaviour was being served, Bellingham, Saka and Rogers did their talking with football, turning the pitch into the place where talent, not colour, mattered most.
And perhaps that was the most fitting response of all. Nott revenge. Not hatred. But a reminder that football belongs to everyone.
