'Ashamed': How stunned Croatia reacted to 'catastrophic' England loss

A nation looks to come to terms with a generation-defining defeat

The nation of Croatia is in a state of shock after England handed the national team a record 7-0 defeat.

Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka both picked up braces as Anthony Gordon and Jude Bellingham joined them on the scoresheet, handing Croatia its most comprehensive defeat ever with a crowd of 6,000 schoolchildren watching on.

For Croatia’s most experienced and decorated player, Luka Modric, the result is an undisputed low point of a glittering career.

The Real Madrid legend, who now represents AC Milan, was making his 205th appearance for his nation in Rijeka, and said he had no excuses for their dismal performance.

He appeared on the brink of tears as he told the press: "You can't play football like that... we looked like we had four or five players less.

Luka Modric bemoaned an ‘unacceptable’ performance

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"It is difficult to find an explanation for such a performance without duels, fouls, aggressiveness, togetherness.

"I've been here for 20 years, but for the first time I feel ashamed after a game. You can lose, or play against an opponent who is better - and they are right now.

"But in any case, losing like this and squandering the reputation we've built over the years is unacceptable... [it was a] catastrophic night [for Croatia]."

Unsurprisingly, manager Slaven Bilic, who was only appointed to his most recent spell with the Vatreni in July, has come in for considerable criticism.

One Croatian journalist wrote England had played as if they wanted the former West Ham and Watford boss sacked, and fans have already called for his head to roll. A poll run by Croatian news site 24sata found 80 per cent of respondents want him dismissed.

Assessing the match at full-time, Bilic said: “I don't have an answer, I've never shied away from responsibility. We have some players who are not up to standard. But there can't be this much difference.

Slaven Bilic said his players are ‘not up to the standard’

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“It would have been different if England had played with an unexpected line-up. They played exactly how they always play. A little different than at the World Cup, but we had a pattern based on which we prepared the game.

“They caught us in the actions we predicted and knew they were expecting us. We weren't surprised, everything was as we had prepared.

“Tonight we didn't have that energy. It was evident from the first second, they trampled on us.”

The winger Franjo Ivanovic was also among those to front up to the press at full-time, saying this is rock bottom for Croatia.

“This is Croatia at its weakest,” the Lens star declared to 24sata. “Since I've been in the national team, I've never seen Croatia so bad.

“Seven goals against the English. It's a disaster. We have to improve our game and attitude in three days and be better in our minds.”

Things get no easier for Croatia now, with Bilic promising to make plenty of changes before visiting world champions Spain in their final outing of this international break.