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Saka at the double and Merino scores for Spain

2026-10-04 · Charlie Peat

Bukayo Saka got his first Nations League goals of the break and Mikel Merino rounded things off for Spain

Bukayo Saka scored twice to help England run out 7-0 winners over Croatia in the UEFA Nations League.

Starting his third match in a row for Thomas Tuchel's side, Saka helped the Three Lions run riot in Rijeka, netting four times in the first half as Harry Kane, Anthony Gordon, Jude Bellingham and then Bukayo all found the net.

The goals continued to flow for England in the second half as Kane netted his second before our number 7 did the same, pouncing on a defensive mishap to net his 19th international goal. Morgan Rogers then rounded off the scoring on an impressive night for England.

At the back, Ezri Konsa started and played the full 90 minutes, having missed out against Czechia. Ebere Eze was introduced on 70 minutes for Gordon, with Myles Lewis-Skelly coming on for the final 11 minutes in Rijeka.

They move into second position on their League A group, three points behind Spain, who defeated Czechia 3-1 in Oviedo.

David Raya, fresh from winning Premier League save of the Month, was starting his first match of the international break, as Spain raced into a 2-0 lead through Lamine Yamal and Rodri.

Jiri Slama pulled a goal back for Czech's but Spain, who introduced Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Merino in the second half, would clinch the victory late on.

Merino, as he did on two occasions during the World Cup, clinched the victory with a late goal to help extend Spain's winning run to 10 matches and firmly on course to top Group 3.

They will travel to Croatia for the final match of the break, with England hosting Czechia in the same group.

Outside of Europe and history was being made in Kolkata as Brazil played India in a first meeting between the two nations.

Bruno Guimaraes and Gabriel Magalhaes were named on the bench as Brazil raced into a 2-0 half-time lead before the pair were introduced in the second half.

Brazil added two further goals through Samuel Lino to complete a comprehensive win for the South American side.

That concludes Brazil's international break, with our pair now returning to London as we start preparing for a return of Premier League football.

Wednesday, September 23

Gibraltar 0-0 Sao Tome & Principe - Scanlon played 45 minutes

Thursday, September 24

Netherlands 1-1 Germany - Havertz started, subbed after 30 minutes, Timber not in squad

Serbia 1-2 Greece - Tzolis started, scored equaliser in comeback win

Norway 3-2 Denmark - Odegaard started, provided two assists

Friday, September 25

Australia 1-1 Brazil - Bruno stars, plays 62 minutes. Gabriel an unused sub

Georgia 0-1 Northern Ireland - O'Neill plays the final 10 minutes from the bench

Italy 0-2 Belgium - Calafiori starts, plays full 90 minutes

Sweden 2-1 Romania - Gyokeres starts, scores winning goal

Saturday, September 26

England 2-3 Spain - Konsa, Saka and Lewis-Skelly all start, Merino comes on for Spain. Eze, Raya and Zubimendi unused subs.

Sunday, September 27

Gibraltar 0-0 Andorra - Scanlon plays 78 minutes for Gibraltar

Serbia 1-2 Netherlands - Timber features for 10 minutes as a substitute

Germany 0-1 Greece - Tzolis starts, plays 81 minutes. Havertz not in squad.

Norway 1-2 Portugal - Odegaard plays full 90 minutes

Monday, September 28

Turkey 1-4 Italy - Calafiori was an unused substitute

Northern Ireland 0-0 Hungary - O'Neill was an unused substitute

Sweden 3-1 Poland - Gyokeres scored the third goal in the win

Tuesday, September 29

Australia 2-4 Brazil - Bruno scores, Gabriel plays full 90 minutes

Czechia 0-2 England - Lewis-Skelly and Saka start, Eze plays 45 minutes

Spain 4-1 Croatia | Zubimendi starts, Merino provides assist

Thursday, October 1

Malta 1-1 Gibraltar - Scanlon scores fine goal, plays 90 minutes

Greece 2-2 Netherlands - Timber plays 78 minutes, Tzolis subbed at 18 minutes

Wales 2-1 Norway - Odegaard assists, plays full 90 minutes

Friday, October 2

France 1-1 Italy - Calafiori plays the full 90 minutes

Ukraine 0-3 Northern Ireland - O'Neill came on as a substitute on 84 minutes

Bosnia & Herzegovina 1-1 Sweden - Gyokeres played the full 90 minutes, scored in the second half

Saturday, October 3

India 0-4 Brazil - Bruno and Gabriel came at half-time

Croatia 0-7 England - Saka scored twice, Konsa played the full 90. Eze and Lewis-Skelly were second-half subs

Spain 3-1 Czech Republic - Raya started, Zubimendi came off the bench, Merino scored late on as a sub

Sunday, October 4

Greece (Tzolis) v Germany | 7.45pm | Nations League | Thessaloniki

Netherlands (Timber) v Serbia | 7.45pm | Nations League | Eindhoven

Portugal v Norway (Odegaard) | 7.45pm | Nations League | Porto

Monday, October 5

Liechtenstein v Gibraltar (Scanlon) | 7.45pm | Friendly | Vaduz

Italy (Calafiori) v Turkey| 7.45pm | Nations League | Bologna

Northern Ireland (O'Neill) v Georgia | 7.45pm | Nations League | Belfast

Romania v Sweden (Gyokeres) | 7.45pm | Nations League | Bucharest

Tuesday, October 6

England (Konsa, Saka, Eze, Lewis-Skelly) v Czech Republic | 7.45pm | Nations League | Wembley

Croatia v Spain (Zubimendi, Raya, Merino) | 7.45pm | Nations League | Split

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