# Bellingham shines as England dominates Croatia

> England's high-grade performance beats Croatia 7-0 in Nations League.
- Title: Bellingham shines as England dominates Croatia · the Guardian
- Summary: England's high-grade performance beats Croatia 7-0 in Nations League. England's high-grade performance against Croatia in Rijeka shows progress after World…
- Keywords: jude bellingham, england, croatica, nations league, uefa, racism, football, world cup, sports, Bellingham, shines, dominates
- Source: the Guardian — https://theguardian.com/football/2026/oct/03/bellingham-stands-out-for-high-grade-england-but-uefa-sends-wrong-message-on-racism
- Published: 2026-10-03T20:06:45+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: jude bellingham, england, croatica, nations league, uefa, racism, football, world cup, sports
## England scores 7-0 against Croatia
England delivered a high-grade performance in a 7-0 Nations League victory over Croatia in Rijeka.
## Uefa's racist fan policy loophole
Uefa allowed 6,000 children to attend the match despite banning adult fans for Nazi-related incidents.
## Croatia's fan ban history
Croatia banned adult fans after a March 2024 march with Nazi salutes and combat weapons.
## Bellingham's England form
Bellingham scored his eighth goal in eight games for England after six in 37 matches.
## England's tactical approach
England used a fluid midfield with Bellingham, Kane and Anderson forming a tight, mobile unit.
## Croatia's poor performance
Croatia struggled against England's high-grade performance, with Modric looking less effective after halftime.
## Racism in football
Croatia's domestic ultra culture involves white supremacist symbols and references to the Ustase.
## Uefa's message on racism
Uefa's policy allows children to attend matches despite banning adult fans for racism, sending a confusing message.
## What happens next
Uefa must close the loophole to prevent children from attending matches with adult fans.
## Key takeaway

England's high-grade performance against Croatia in Rijeka shows progress after World Cup, despite Uefa's racist fan policy loophole.