England 2-1 Croatia Player Ratings: Rogers 8.8/10 as Three Lions Win on Kane’s Record Night

Harry Kane’s record-breaking 126th cap ended with the winning goal, but England needed a Croatia mistake to get there. Morgan Rogers put the Three Lions ahead on 24 minutes, and Petar Sucic levelled on 59 after Jarell Quansah’s loose header back towards Jordan Pickford. Kane’s penalty on 64, awarded after a VAR check, secured a fourth straight Nations League win and a quarter-final place.

Morgan Rogers tops the player ratings at 8.8/10 as man of the match. He scored from a 0.81 xG chance after Kane’s diagonal pass and Jude Bellingham’s flick across goal. Kane’s 92nd England goal draws him level with Robert Lewandowski on the all-time list, and he has now scored in six straight Nations League games.

Quansah’s 5.0/10 makes him the worst player on the pitch, after the error that cost England their first goal conceded since matchday one. Croatia lost for the fourth time in a row, which they had never done before. England now face world champions Spain in Madrid on Sunday, with top spot in the group at stake. Check out the England vs Croatia player ratings.

Croatia National Football Team Player Ratings vs England

Here are the England national football team player ratings from the England vs Croatia player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Dominik Livakovic - 6: Livaković had a mixed night from our vantage point. He produced one sharp low save from Bellingham that kept Croatia alive. But he conceded twice and never truly stamped authority on his box. His distribution was decent yet occasionally rushed under England’s press. We noticed hesitancy on crosses, especially before the penalty spell. Overall, competent but short of his usual calming standard.

Defenders

Josip Stanisic - 7: We felt Stanišić quietly had one of Croatia’s better games. He defended his flank with maturity, timing tackles well and blocking two dangerous efforts. On the ball he was crisp, completing most of his passes and stepping into midfield confidently. His positioning on England counters impressed us, rarely getting dragged out. Conceding a corner before the equaliser aside, he looked solid and dependable throughout.

Luka Vuskovic - 6: Vuskovic’s performance left us torn between promise and rawness. He won a fair share of duels and made several strong clearances under pressure. However, his error leading to a shot highlighted occasional lapses in concentration. We noticed him struggling when Kane dropped deep, unsure whether to follow or hold the line. His passing into the final third showed bravery but was sometimes loose. A learning night for a young defender rather than a disaster.

Josko Gvardiol - 5.5: Gvardiol had moments of trademark class but one massive blemish. Early on he stepped forward with aggression, even getting a shot blocked from the box. Yet the error leading to a goal felt uncharacteristic for him, and it changed the tone. We saw his body language dip slightly after that sequence, though he kept defending gamely. His aerial work remained strong and he passed reliably from the back. Overall, a below-par display by his extremely high standards.

Ivan Smolcic - 5: Smolčić had a tough evening, and from our perspective he was Croatia’s worst performer. He conceded the crucial penalty on Quansah, which completely shifted momentum. Before that he looked unsettled by England’s movement, late to several duels and beaten for pace. The yellow card only underlined his struggles and rash decision-making. He did chip in with clearances, but they felt more desperate than controlled. Subbed off after 76 minutes, it felt like a mercy change from his coach.

Midfielders

Mateo Kovacic - 6.5: As captain, Kovačić tried to drag Croatia upfield with the ball. He stung Pickford’s gloves with a fine effort from range, showing his intent. We noticed his passing rhythm improve after the first quarter, recycling possession neatly. Yet he lost several duels and seemed occasionally overrun by England’s press. Defensively he read some situations well, making a couple of tidy tackles. Overall, a decent but not truly dominant display in the engine room.

Nikola Vlašić - 6: Vlašić worked hard on both sides, but his impact felt sporadic. He supported his full-back with defensive tracking and produced a few hefty clearances. In possession, though, we saw him give the ball away too often under pressure. His crossing rarely found a target, and his attacking decisions looked rushed. Effort was clear from his body language, always sprinting back, rarely sulking. Unfortunately the final product did not really justify his endeavour.

Martin Baturina - 7.5: For us, Baturina was Croatia’s standout outfield player. He constantly demanded the ball, driving forward with sharp dribbles and intelligent passes. His shot from distance forced a strong save from Pickford, nearly changing the game. On set pieces he delivered with menace, and his assist-like involvement around Budimir’s header was noticeable. We loved his confidence, even after losing the ball, immediately pressing to win it back. A bright, creative performance that suggests he’s ready for sustained international responsibility.

Petar Sučić - 7: Sučić’s night was defined by that emphatic equaliser. His movement at the corner was clever, attacking the space at the near zone. Finishing high into the top corner showed nerve and technique in a crowded box. Beyond the goal, he linked play reasonably and pressed England’s midfield with energy. We did notice his duels sometimes going the wrong way, losing physical battles. Still, scoring Croatia’s only goal earns him a strong, positive rating.

Josip Misic - 7: Mišić quietly knitted Croatia’s play together from deeper zones. His passing was almost spotless, barely misplacing a ball all game. The long shot that flashed wide showed his willingness to try something different. Defensively he stepped in with well-timed tackles, disrupting England’s central combinations. We were surprised he was substituted, because his composure seemed valuable late on. Overall, a tidy, intelligent performance that sadly didn’t translate into points.

Forwards

Igor Matanovic - 6.5: Matanović fought hard up front in quite a lonely role. He won multiple free kicks, giving Croatia relief and territory when under pressure. His link-up with Kovačić for the long-range effort was sharp. However, he rarely threatened directly on goal and sometimes drifted away from dangerous zones. We could see frustration in his body language before the substitution, hands on hips often. Not poor, just slightly isolated by the team’s structure.

Substitutes

Mario Pašalić - 6: Pašalić entered for Sučić and tried to offer late penalty-box presence. He made a few intelligent runs, but Croatia struggled to feed him consistently. We noticed him pressing England’s build-up with decent intensity. Still, he did not register a clear-cut chance or decisive action. A standard substitute cameo, more about effort than influence.

Ante Budimir - 6.5: Budimir gave Croatia a genuine aerial threat after coming on. His header that Pickford saved in the top corner was a big moment. We liked his movement between centre-backs, unsettling Burn and Quansah. However, he had limited service, relying heavily on Baturina’s deliveries. In the end his presence caused stress but not a breakthrough.

Luka Modric - 6.5: Modrić’s introduction instantly lifted Croatia’s passing tempo. He found pockets of space and sprayed a few crisp forward balls. We noticed teammates looking more confident once he was on the pitch. Yet with limited time, he couldn’t fully dictate the match as he usually does. A classy cameo, but the damage from England’s second goal was already done.

Marco Pašalić - 6: Coming on late for Smolčić, Marco’s role was mainly defensive stabilisation. He helped close one or two wide channels on England counters. With Croatia chasing the game, his influence on the ball was minimal. We barely saw him get advanced touches under England’s compact block. Fair to say his rating reflects a low-event contribution.

Manager

S. Bilić - 6.5: From our perspective, Bilić set Croatia up with bravery but paid for a few details. His team pressed well, forced corners, and created through Baturina and Kovačić. Yet the penalty concession and defensive errors undermined his game plan. We liked his triple substitution around 70 minutes, which nearly turned the tide. Still, late control belonged more to England, and Croatia’s final-third decisions felt rushed. A respectable away performance, but the small margins went against him.

England National Football Team Player Ratings vs Croatia

Have a look at the Croatia national football team player ratings from the England vs Croatia player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Jordan Pickford - 7.5: Pickford had the kind of game that quietly wins tight matches. He produced key saves from Kovačić, Baturina, and Budimir at crucial moments. We noticed his communication with the back line, constantly organising on corners. His distribution mixed risk and control, occasionally going long but mostly finding midfielders. Conceding once from close range felt more about defensive lapses than him. Overall, a strong, focused performance that justified a high rating.

Defenders

Trent Alexander-Arnold - 6.5: Trent’s outing was a familiar balance of brilliance and occasional looseness. He contributed to chance creation with crosses and shots from distance. At the same time, we saw him concede corners and get caught high a few times. His passing into the final third remained top-tier, slicing through Croatia’s lines. Defensively he worked, making tackles, but Sučić’s set-piece goal exposed the unit. Subbed late, his performance felt good but not sparkling.

Lewis Hall - 6.5: Hall had a busy, slightly chaotic match on the left. He combined nicely with Gordon, assisting a chance and getting a shot blocked. Defensively, he was sometimes beaten in duels yet recovered with strong clearances. We noticed his confidence on the ball, rarely hiding even after mistakes. His passing accuracy stayed high, helping England keep possession under pressure. Still, a few lapses allowed Croatia to sustain attacking spells down his side.

Dan Burn - 7: Burn brought calm and aerial authority to England’s back line. His blocked efforts in attack showed surprising ambition from set pieces. More importantly, he won most aerial duels and cleared danger repeatedly. We liked how he marshalled the box on Croatia’s flurry of corners. His one foul was more clumsy than malicious, nothing too costly. Overall, a reliable, imposing presence that helped protect Pickford.

Jarell Quansah - 6: Quansah’s night was a genuine rollercoaster. He gave away numerous fouls and even an error leading to a goal. But he also earned the penalty that Kane converted, which was huge. We noticed his nerves early on, tugging shirts and arriving slightly late to duels. As the game progressed he settled somewhat, passing cleanly from the back. A mixed bag performance, with one big positive moment saving his rating.

Midfielders

Declan Rice - 7: Rice anchored England’s midfield with trademark authority. He recycled possession almost flawlessly, barely misplacing a pass. His deliveries from set pieces created decent chances, including Burn’s blocked header. We saw him occasionally struggle against Croatia’s dribblers, losing some duels. Still, his positioning and calm in tight spaces stayed invaluable. Subbed late, he left having controlled the game more than most.

Elliot Anderson - 6.5: Anderson blended hard work with occasional flashes of creativity. He pressed Croatia’s midfield diligently and won useful free kicks. His shot over the bar showed ambition but lacked execution. We noticed one error leading to a shot, hinting at slight looseness in possession. Overall, though, his energy and passing range helped England maintain tempo. Not spectacular, yet certainly positive.

Jude Bellingham - 8.5: Bellingham again looked like England’s heartbeat. His assist for Rogers was perfectly weighted, splitting Croatia’s defence. He also carved another big chance for himself that Livaković saved. We loved his aggression in duels, winning most and driving the team forward. At times he lost the ball trying ambitious plays, but that’s part of his edge. For us, he was one of the highest-rated performers on the pitch.

Anthony Gordon - 7: Gordon’s directness bothered Croatia all evening. He completed all his dribbles, constantly running at defenders with purpose. His combination with Hall produced shots and half-chances from the left side. We noticed him tracking back diligently, contributing defensively as well. Finishing let him down a touch, with efforts flying off target. Still, his relentless energy justified a strong rating.

Morgan Rogers - 8.8: From our perspective, Morgan Rogers was England’s highest rated player and man of the match. He scored the opener with a composed close-range finish after Bellingham’s assist. Beyond the goal, his creativity stood out, laying on multiple key passes. We loved how he drifted into pockets, linking play and dragging markers around. His pressing and defensive work were also impressive, never switching off. In a tight Nations League game, his spark made the difference.

Forwards

Harry Kane - 7.5: Kane didn’t dominate statistically but delivered in decisive moments. His penalty for the 2-1 winner was textbook calm, centre of the goal. Earlier, he had a shot blocked and missed one big chance, which surprised us. Still, his link play and long passes helped England escape pressure. We could see his leadership, constantly talking to younger teammates and referees. Overall, his impact in key moments outweighed minor frustrations.

Substitutes

James Garner - 6: Garner came on for Rice to add fresh legs in midfield. He kept things simple, focusing on short passes and defensive positioning. We didn’t see him attempt anything overly adventurous, which felt intentional. His calm presence helped England see out the final minutes. However, his influence remained subtle rather than transformative.

Rio Ngumoha - 6: Ngumoha’s cameo was brief but lively. He offered pace on the flank, stretching Croatia’s tiring defence. We noticed a few sharp runs that forced them deeper. Yet he had limited touches, with England more focused on game control. A promising introduction, albeit short on concrete actions.

Ben White - 6.5: White replaced Trent to solidify the right side defensively. He stayed compact, rarely straying forward unless the situation was clear. His presence helped England deal with late Croatian crosses. We appreciated his calm on the ball under pressure. A sensible, professional cameo that contributed to the clean closing phase.

Manager

T. Tuchel - 7.5: Tuchel’s game plan looked clear from the start, and it largely worked. England pressed selectively, then used Bellingham and Rogers between lines to hurt Croatia. His substitutions around 77 minutes stabilised the team when legs started to tire. We liked how his side managed set-piece chaos, despite conceding once. From our perspective, he outmanoeuvred Bilić in key phases. A well-earned win that will please him in this UEFA Nations League campaign.

England vs Croatia Man of the Match: Morgan Rogers (8.8/10)

Morgan Rogers earned Man of the Match with an 8.8 rating. On 24 minutes he met Bellingham’s flick across the six-yard area with a volley that squirmed past Livakovic, his first competitive Wembley goal for England. He was involved in other chances too, with an unmarked run at the far post on 20 and a Bellingham pass on 53 that nearly made it 2-0.

Worst Player in England vs Croatia: Jarell Quansah (5.0/10)

England defender Jarell Quansah was the lowest-rated player on the pitch at 5.0/10. Under no pressure from a Croatia corner, he nodded the ball back towards Pickford on 59 minutes and Sucic pounced, hooking it into the roof of the net. Lee Dixon said on ITV there was “no excuse” for it. Quansah did win the penalty Kane converted, after being dragged down by Smolcic.