The Daily · Saturday, 3 October 2026
England Shatter Croatian Records While Lewandowski Defies Age Once More
England produced one of their most emphatic performances in years, beating Croatia 7-0 in Rijeka to inflict the heaviest defeat in Croatian football history. Thomas Tuchel called it a 'complete' display, and it was hard to argue — a result that reframes his tenure after earlier doubts and sends a genuine statement into the Nations League. Slaven Bilic described his side's collapse as a 'collective blackout.' For Croatia, a nation that reached a World Cup final not long ago, it was a sobering evening.
Elsewhere in the Nations League, Robert Lewandowski reminded everyone he remains a force of nature, scoring a hat-trick at 38 as Poland dismantled Bosnia-Herzegovina 6-0. It was also the final international appearance for Edin Dzeko, who deserved a kinder farewell. Northern Ireland added their own chapter to the day, with Ciaron Brown scoring his first two international goals in a 3-0 win over Ukraine that puts them clear at the top of Group B2. Scotland, meanwhile, marked Andy Robertson's 100th cap with a victory — Sebastien Pocognoli's first as head coach.
Off the pitch, the Manchester City financial case took a fresh turn, with whistleblower Rui Pinto signalling his willingness to cooperate with UK authorities if a protection arrangement can be secured — a development that could yet bring further documents into the Premier League's long-running investigation.