England to Play Croatia Behind Closed Doors in Nations League

Croatia's sanction for fan disorder means no general crowd at Saturday's match in Rijeka, though England can distribute 100 complimentary tickets.

England's away fixture against Croatia on Saturday will be played behind closed doors as the host nation serves a two-match sanction for crowd trouble. The Group A3 contest at Stadion HNK Rijeka will go ahead with no general admission, leaving England supporters with almost no route into the stadium for the team's third game of the UEFA Nations League campaign.

The punishment follows incidents during Croatia's Nations League quarter-final against France last year. Croatia received a heavy fine and a two-part penalty: one subsequent home game ordered to be played without spectators, and the next away match without a Croatian away following. The Croatian Football Federation linked the measures to the conduct of some of its supporters in the quarter-final matches against France.

After the draw in Brussels placed England in Group A3 with Croatia, Spain and the Czech Republic, the Croatian federation set out in a statement how the punishment would apply to the new campaign. Croatia's opening away fixture, against the Czech Republic on 26 September, was therefore played without Croatian fans in the ground. The first home fixture, against England on 3 October, must be staged with no crowd.

The stadium will not be entirely empty, however. Although Three Lions fans were initially barred outright, England were later allowed to hand out 100 complimentary tickets to supporters. The BBC has also reported that between 3,000 and 6,000 Croatian pupils will be permitted to attend the match at Stadion HNK Rijeka.

England supporters have faced a lockout in Rijeka before. In October 2018 they were prohibited from attending a Nations League match in the city after comparable measures were imposed on the hosts, with the sanction again aimed at Croatia rather than at England. Hundreds traveled anyway and attempted to follow the game from a hill above the stadium.

On the field, England began the group with a home game against Spain on 26 September and were beaten 3-2. Lamine Yamal, Álex Baena and Mikel Oyarzabal were on the scoresheet for the visitors, giving La Roja the win.

England's first victory followed on 29 September, a 2-0 win over Czechia at Fortuna Arena. Anthony Gordon broke the deadlock in the 47th minute and Harry Kane added a 69th-minute goal. The results give England three points from their opening two matches.

England's schedule does not ease after the trip to Croatia. They host the Czech Republic again on Tuesday, 6 October, three days after the Rijeka match, then face Croatia at home on 12 November before finishing the group away to Spain on 15 November. The Nations League knockout stages are set to take place next year.

Global Sportscast's schedule lists England at Croatia on Saturday, October 3. Kick-off is set for 12:00 PM EDT at Stadion HNK Rijeka.