UEFA Nations
2026-11-12 - England vs Croatia
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: UEFA Nations League Group Stage Match Day 5
Thursday 12th November 2026 - Kick Off 7:45pm
This game is live on TV
England
Reports have stated that some harsh words were spoken between the leaders of the England national team and management after the disappointing manner in which they were beaten in the Semi Final at the World Cup Finals. That has not caused a fracture in the relationships, but have seemingly strengthened them, and England have produced some very positive performances in the Nations League Group Stage.
One more point will ensure England are playing in the Quarter Final of the 2026/27 Nations League, while there are still ambitions of topping this Group and making sure they host the Second Leg of the last eight tie coming up. The performances will also ensure a top Seeding spot for the upcoming Euro 2028 Finals, which will be played in the United Kingdom, and England have to be feeling pretty confident returning to action.
England did open this Group with a 2-3 defeat to European and World Champions Spain at Wembley Stadium, but they bounced back in the extended international window with comfortable wins over Czechia (twice) and Croatia. The national team have won 6 of the last 7 home competitive fixtures going back to the last running of the Nations League.
Marc Guehi and Ezra Konsa have missed out on action through injury, but it is going to be a big night for Harry Kane who can become the Englishman with most caps for the international team during his next appearance.
Croatia
The last decade has been hugely successful for Croatia, but there was a period between 2006 and 2012 when the national team had given the home fans a huge sense of pride. That was a period where they were managed by Slaven Bilic and the former manager has returned this summer to take over from a very successful Zlatko Dalic, who departed following the World Cup Finals and the expiration of his contract.
There is a sense that this is going to be a transitional period for Croatia as some of the most successful players produced by the country age out. Opening up with a win over Czechia may have given fans some hope of a shorter transition, but they have since been outplayed by England and Spain (twice) and Croatia are going to have to win a Relegation Play Off tie to return to League A of the Nations League in two years time.
Croatia could win their remaining two games and still finish in the top two, but that would mean beating an England team that have secured a couple of wins over them in the last five months. They had been unbeaten in 5 competitive away games after winning in Czechia, but Croatia's run was emphatically ended in a 4-1 defeat in Spain. It is also a result that means Croatia have lost 4 of the last 6 away Nations League games played.
Ivan Perisic is not going to be travelling as he serves a suspension. A number of players called up to the national squad have withdrawn with injury.
Head to Head
England beat Croatia 4-2 in the World Cup Group Stage in June and then thumped them 1-6 away from home last month in the Nations League.
England are now unbeaten in 5 and have won 4 in a row against Croatia since the 2018 World Cup Semi Final defeat, albeit After Extra Time.
The last time Croatia beat England in normal time was back in 2007 in the Euro 2008 Qualifying Group under Slaven Bilic.
Prediction
The Ballon D'Or winner plays in England for the first time since receiving the award and it is a potentially big night for Harry Kane as he sets a new record for appearances for the national team.
In the last international break, England came together and looked to have recovered from the disappointing World Cup Semi Final defeat to Argentina and Thomas Tuchel will insist they build on that.
Topping this Nations League Group remains the ambition and England need to win to make sure they have a chance to do that when travelling to Spain on Match Day 6.
Over recent years, facing Croatia would be seen as a big challenge, but Slaven Bilic is going to be overseeing a transition for the national team. His previous successful reign as manager will mean fans reward Bilic with the time he will need, but Croatia have not been very competitive in this section.
Heavy losses to Spain and England have stung and Croatia have now lost 4 in a row to the latter, including twice since the middle of June.
England have scored 10 goals in those wins over Croatia in 2026 and this is a team that has the momentum to make this a relatively comfortable night before turning attention to a second crack at the European and World Champions.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
England 2-0 Croatia
