O’Reilly out as Kane leads depleted England into Croatia clash
England face Croatia in the UEFA Nations League with a depleted squad after defender Nico O’Reilly withdrew through injury, but will be led by Harry Kane. Read More: https://punchng.com/oreilly-out-as-kane-leads-depleted-england-into-croatia-clash/
England will be without Manchester City defender Nico O'Reilly when they face Croatia in the UEFA Nations League on Saturday. This setback further compounds England's defensive concerns ahead of the Group A3 clash in Rijeka. O'Reilly withdrew from the squad due to injury and will miss both the Saturday match against Croatia and the Tuesday game against Czechia.
Manager Thomas Tuchel continues to grapple with absent defensive options, leaving England to rely on captain Harry Kane for crucial goals. Kane has been instrumental in England's recent performances, scoring 19 goals in his last 21 appearances, including a brace against Croatia during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Despite these challenges, Tuchel remains optimistic about the team's prospects, praising Croatia's footballing prowess and the team's strong bond forged during their recent US tour.
Croatia, meanwhile, will aim to bounce back from a 4-1 defeat to Spain in their previous Nations League fixture, with both sides currently holding three points from their opening two matches.
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