England prepares to face Croatia in the Nations League, seeking to maintain momentum despite recent controversies surrounding the Manchester City verdict. The match comes on the heels of a solid 2-0 victory against the Czech Republic, showcasing a focused performance from Thomas Tuchel's squad, who are under pressure following a disappointing World Cup exit.

As England steps onto the pitch, they carry the memory of their earlier triumph against Croatia in the World Cup opener earlier this year. However, Croatia has undergone changes, reappointing Slaven Bilic as their manager since that tournament. Despite struggling against world champions Spain in their last match, Croatia boasts a wealth of experience and talent within their ranks.

Notably, the atmosphere at the match will be unusual, as crowd restrictions limit attendance to only schoolchildren due to previous disturbances caused by Croatian fans in Paris last year. This situation adds another layer of complexity to an already challenging fixture, as both teams look to assert their dominance on the field.