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The latest England team news, injury update and predicted XI ahead of their Nations League clash with Croatia
England are at the half-way point of their extended international break. So far in their 2026/27 UEFA Nations League campaign, they’ve suffered a 3-2 home defeat to world and European champions Spain, before bouncing back with a comfortable 2-0 win away to Czechia in Prague.
Next up, Thomas Tuchel’s side take on Croatia in a rematch of their 2026 World Cup group opener - a game that saw the Three Lions give away a lead twice in the first half before storming back in the second to eventually win the game 4-2. Ultimately, England made it to the semi-finals before being knocked out, while Croatia were eliminated in the Round of 32.
Ahead of their trip to the Stadion HNK Rijeka - for a match that will be played behind closed doors due to Croatian crowd trouble last year - England have one injury issue to contend with. Left-back Nico O’Reilly has withdrawn from the squad due to an unspecified knock, leaving only Newcastle United’s Lewis Hall as a viable backup option in his position.
As England go through their final preparations ahead of their clash against Croatia, we’ve named the most likely XI Tuchel will send out to face a side the Three Lions have beaten three times in their last three meetings.
Will Pickford start against Croatia?
Jordan Pickford will be back in goal for England's trip to Croatiaplaceholder image
Jordan Pickford will be back in goal for England's trip to Croatia | Getty Images
England are set to line up in the usual 4-2-3-1 shape favoured by Tuchel. In a pre-arranged plan, Leeds United’s James Trafford started in goal for the first two matches of the international break, to give some vital experience to the side’s likely next number one. Jordan Pickford will return to the side to face Croatia, and make his 93rd England appearance in the process.
A loss for England against Croatia would be bad news for their hopes of making the knockout stage of the competition which takes place in March, so Tuchel isn’t expected to experiment too heavily in this fixture. Trent Alexander-Arnold likely did enough in the win over Czechia to keep his starting spot, while Hall will continue to fill in for O’Reilly on the left.
The Three Lions’ most settled centre-back pairing is Arsenal’s Ezri Konsa and Man City’s Marc Guehi, and Tuchel is expected to stick with the duo for Saturday night. The likes of Jarrad Branthwaite and Trevoh Chalobah will be looking to break their way into the eleven, but have a better chance of starting against Czechia at Wembley next week.
England predicted XI vs Croatia: midfield and attack
Harry Kane netted his 87th goal for England during their 2-0 win over Czechiaplaceholder image
Harry Kane netted his 87th goal for England during their 2-0 win over Czechia | Getty Images
Myles Lewis-Skelly has filled in reasonably well for his Arsenal teammate Declan Rice, who withdrew from the international break after being named in the initial squad. Lewis-Skelly will likely start again, and be paired with Manchester City’s £116 summer signing Lewis Anderson, who is now an integral part of England’s midfield.
Bukayo Saka has had a pretty underwhelming time of it for England of late, failing to dazzle in the World Cup and making little impact against Spain or Czechia. He’ll probably still start against Croatia, ahead of Liverpool’s Rio Ngumoah. On the left, star winger Anthony Gordon will look to make it three goals from three games after netting in the two previous outings.
Jude Bellingham is set to return to the starting eleven after being swapped out for Morgan Rogers in England’s last game. Up top, Harry Kane will once again lead the line for England, as he prepares to make his 124th appearance for his country. With 87 goals now to his name, he’s got an excellent chance of hitting the century milestone well before Euro 2028.
England predicted line-up vs Croatia: Pickford; Alexander-Arnold, Konsa, Guehi, Hall; Lewis-Skelly, Anderson; Saka, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane.