England

England boss Thomas Tuchel, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, on facing Croatia away: "I am not judging and weighing matches more important than others. This can be an important one for the group.

"I feel they will approach it like a cup match, a cup semi-final or something. This is what they maybe want to create.

"I am not sure it's happening with the atmosphere, with a lot of children in the stadium, but let’s see how it plays out."

Ziltoid: I wondered what Barcelona were thinking when they paid so much for Gordon, but he really has gone up a level these last two games.

Croatia

Image source, Getty Images

Thomas Tuchel, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live about 41-year-old Luka Modric, who starts against the Three Lions: "It's just unbelievable that he is still out there at this level. He can pull it off in any second of any match. I think he and Mateo Kovacic can play blindfolded but they will still find each other with passes.

"We're about to witness the highest level of midfielders with these two playing. But we're up for it. We were up for it a few months ago (in the 4-2 win over Croatia at the World Cup) and we are up for it now."

John Murray
BBC football correspondent on BBC Radio 5 Live in Rijeka

Image source, Reuters

This looks like a bit of a shootout at this stage in the group with England and Croatia losing their matches against Spain.

They have both won their matches against the Czech Republic. England and Croatia still have to play at Wembley next month.

I think if England can get out of this match with some points I think they will have the edge in terms of finishing in the top two in the group to get through to the quarter-finals next March.

Frog: There was lots of negative comments about Anthony Gordon when he signed for Barcelona saying he was not good enough. I always thought he was brilliant and now he’s proving the doubters wrong. He’s playing for a big club now, learning from better players than the teams he played for before. Good luck to the lad.

Alex Howell
BBC Sport England reporter at Stadion HNK Rijeka

Image source, Getty Images

Anthony Gordon was one of England's standout players at the World Cup and earned a big-money move to European giants Barcelona in the summer, while his good form has continued into his country's Nations League campaign.

The 25-year-old's England form has been building since the knockout stage of the World Cup began - his run of averaging a goal contribution every 69 minutes started with assisting both Kane's efforts in a 2-1 last-32 victory over DR Congo.

The former Newcastle player has scored three goals and provided three assists in his past six England matches, while he also won the penalty in England's dramatic last-16 victory over Mexico at Azteca Stadium.

And after a positive start in Spain, where he has already picked up five assists in La Liga, Gordon looks to be joining boss Thomas Tuchel's "undroppable" bracket.

Read more: How Gordon became one of England's main men.

England

Anthony Gordon has scored in his past three appearances for England. Will he make it four goals in four games for his country?

Groenemeyer: Nations League pointless? No, it gives some incentive to internationals outside of the World Cup and European Championship. Much better than pointless friendlies with endless substitutes.

Alex Howell
BBC Sport England reporter at Stadion HNK Rijeka

There are only 100 England supporters allowed in the ground for the game.

To qualify for tickets for this match, supporters needed to have been some of the Three Lions' most loyal supporters.

They are sat just the other side of the tunnel and I can spot the odd England shirt from my position.

Nochiponmyshoulder: Kane has served England well, but to suggest he is irreplaceable is a slight on the rest. No-one is a shoe in. They should only be there on merit.

England boss Thomas Tuchel on playing a third match in a week: "We are staying on the coast, so in the morning we swim in the sea, the sun is shining and the food is perfect. So, there is really no reason to complain, and we are ready to go, we have an important match.

"We cannot fall asleep in the beautiful place where we are. We cannot switch off and be in holiday mode. There are a lot of children so it might feel a little bit like pre-season. But it’s not pre-season."

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

John Murray
BBC football correspondent on BBC Radio 5 Live in Rijeka

Image source, PA Media

We are in Rijeka which is right at the top of the Adriatic Sea.

The weather has been spectacular and the England squad have been staying right on the coast.

Alex Howell
BBC Sport England reporter at Stadion HNK Rijeka

I was at the U21 European Championship in Slovakia and saw Elliot Anderson and Alex Scott play together.

The pair complement each other very well and perhaps the fact that they know each others game is in Thomas Tuchel's thinking.

Jarell Quansah also played in that same team and it continues to show the pathway of talent that come through Lee Carsley's U21 team.

The last time Elliot Anderson played alongside Alex Scott for the Three Lions was in the under-21s 2025 European Championship final against Germany...

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

England

Image source, Getty Images

Will Harry Kane play until he is 41 like Croatia's Luka Modric?

The England captain, 33, could top 200-plus caps if he does.

Today, Kane makes his 124th appearance for his country.

Peter Shilton still holds the current all-time appearance record for the Three Lions, with 125 senior international caps to his name.

Kane will equal Shilton's record if he plays against the Czech Republic on Tuesday - putting him on course to beat Shilton's record at Wembley on 12 November when Croatia visit the national stadium.

A reminder that it is the top two who advance to the quarter-finals in March. England reach the halfway stage of the group stage after this game. Their last three games are:

• Tuesday: v Czech Republic (Wembley)
• 12 November: v Croatia (Wembley)
• 15 November: v Spain (Madrid)

By the way, great times for Bournemouth.

Competing in Europe for the first time, AC Milan at home later this month, and now one of their own starting in England's midfield.

Alex Howell
BBC Sport England reporter at Stadion HNK Rijeka

Alex Scott looked good the other night when he came on against the Czech Republic.

He's been highly rated in the Premier League for a long time and now he gets his chance to show what he can do from the start for England.