Thomas Tuchel has publicly stated that the England national team has successfully moved past the psychological impact of their recent World Cup performance. Following a dominant showing in Rijeka, where England secured a significant victory over Croatia, Tuchel praised his attacking players for their clinical execution and cohesive play. The manager suggested that this result serves as a statement of intent for the squad's future development.

The match itself was notable for the environment in which it was played. Although UEFA had ordered the game to be held behind closed doors as a disciplinary measure against the Croatian Football Federation for prior incidents of racist and discriminatory fan behavior, the stadium was not empty. Approximately 6,200 local school children were permitted to attend the match free of charge, creating a unique atmosphere for the players despite the official sanction.

England’s performance has solidified their position in their Nations League group. With this win, the team remains in a strong position to qualify for the next stage of the competition. Tuchel emphasized that the victory was not just about the points, but about the team's ability to execute a high-level game plan against a formidable opponent. The result marks a historic low for Croatia, representing their largest margin of defeat in international competition. While the focus remains on tactical progress, Tuchel’s comments suggest he believes the team is now operating with a renewed sense of confidence and purpose that was previously lacking following their World Cup exit.