England lineup vs. Croatia: Predicted XI for UEFA Nations League clash

By Oliver Thomas | 01 Oct 2026 17:05, Last updated: 01 Oct 2026 17:47

England volition beryllium without Nico O'Reilly for Saturday’s UEFA Nations League clash with Croatia astatine Stadion HNK Rijeka.

The versatile Manchester City prima was not acceptable to diagnostic successful the Three Lions’ 2-0 triumph implicit Czech Republic connected Tuesday and helium has since withdrawn from Thomas Tuchel’s squad owed to injury.

Lewis Hall, who impressed astatine left-back past clip out, is truthful expected to clasp his starting spot, portion Trent Alexander-Arnold could proceed astatine right-back aft making a notable content connected his archetypal England commencement successful implicit 2 years.

Ezri Konsa remains doubtful aft helium was lone acceptable to marque the seat against Czechia. Como’s Trevoh Chalobah volition anticipation to support his centre-back spot alongside Marc Guehi, though Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite is different option.

James Trafford has started England’s archetypal 2 Nations League matches, but Tuchel has antecedently said that helium plans to springiness long-serving No.1 Jordan Pickford a run-out this month. The Everton goalkeeper is truthful expected to instrumentality betwixt the sticks and gain his 92nd cap.

Elliot Anderson and Myles Lewis-Skelly could some clasp their starting spots successful centre-midfield, but Tuchel whitethorn beryllium tempted to freshen up his squad and manus either James Garner oregon Alex Scott their archetypal competitory commencement for England.

Jude Bellingham, meanwhile, began arsenic a substitute against Czechia – coming connected for the last 20 minutes – and helium is acceptable to gain a callback successful an precocious midfield position, perchance astatine the disbursal of Morgan Rogers.

Anthony Gordon and Harry Kane person scored successful some of England’s opening 2 games and are apt to commencement again successful a three-man onslaught with Bukayo Saka, though Eberechi Eze, Morgan Gibbs-White and Rio Ngumoha are each waiting successful the wings if needed.

England imaginable starting lineup:

Pickford; Trent, Chalobah, Guehi, Hall; Anderson, Garner; Saka, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane