O’Reilly out as Kane leads depleted England into Croatia clash

Nico O’Reilly will miss England’s UEFA Nations League match against Croatia, leaving the team without a defender as they prepare to face the European powerhouse. O’Reilly, who has returned to Manchester City after recovering from injury, has withdrawn from the squad for the match, which also sees Harry Kane leading the Three Lions in their absence of several defenders.

The England captain has been instrumental in their recent performances, scoring 19 goals in his last 21 appearances for the national team, including a brace against Croatia during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Croatia, meanwhile, aims to recover from a 4-1 defeat by Spain in their previous Nations League fixture, where they opened with a win over Czechia before suffering a heavy loss.

England manager Thomas Tuchel acknowledged the challenge ahead, describing Croatia as a "big football nation and a proud country," while Croatia’s coach Slaven Bilić emphasized the need for his side to be compact defensively while showing courage when in possession.