England set to seal their place in the quarter-finals: England vs Croatia prediction
The UEFA Nations League matchday five clash between England and Croatia will take place on November 12, 2026, at Wembley Stadium in London. England sit second in Group 3 of League A and are just one point away from qualifying for the quarter-finals. Croatia have all but lost their chances of progressing after three straight defeats, while the sides’ previous meeting ended in a 7-0 thrashing.
England: impressive scoring form and a rock-solid defence
England have bounced back emphatically from their opening defeat to Spain (2-3). Thomas Tuchel’s side followed it up with wins over Czechia (2-0), Croatia (7-0) and the Czechs again (3-0). Across four matchdays, the team have scored 14 goals, conceded just three and boast the best goal difference in the entire Nations League (+11).
England are typically strong at Wembley, having scored 20 goals in their last seven home matches in the competition. Cole Palmer and Marc Guéhi will be unavailable for the hosts, while Myles Lewis-Skelly is suspended. However, Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and the other key players are ready to deliver the goals they need.
Croatia: injury absences deepen the crisis
Croatia opened their group campaign with a win over Czechia (2-1), but have since suffered three consecutive defeats. Slaven Bilic’s side lost to Spain (1-4), England (0-7) and then Spain again (1-2). The thrashing by England was the heaviest defeat in the national team’s history.
Croatia head to London with serious personnel problems. Ivan Perišić is suspended, while Josip Šutalo, Martin Pongračić, Andrej Kramarić, Franjo Ivanović and Kristijan Jakić are injured. Experienced Luka Modrić remains the visitors’ biggest hope, but overcoming so many absences will be a tough task.
Match facts and head-to-head record
- England have won their last three Nations League matches with an aggregate score of 12-0
- Croatia have kept just one clean sheet in their previous 14 matches in all competitions
- England have beaten Croatia in their last four meetings, including a 7-0 thrashing in October
Wembley expects another home win: England vs Croatia prediction
England are clear favourites thanks to their potent attack, reliable defence and home advantage. Tuchel’s side need only a draw to reach the quarter-finals, but their current form points to a convincing win.
Croatia have serious defensive issues, and their absences make matters even more difficult. Another 7-0 thrashing is unlikely, but England are certainly capable of securing a big win.
