England have secured qualification to the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals with a 2-1 win over Croatia at Wembley on Thursday, November 12.
However, there are concerns Thomas Tuchel must address in his side before they face Spain in their final group-stage match, and before they begin their quarter-final campaign.
While the England Nations League quarter-final qualification is an important achievement, their victory over Croatia highlighted a few areas that could prove costly against stronger opposition.
Concerns Ahead of England Nations League Quarter-Final Campaign
England’s Defensive Vulnerability
The Three Lions have managed three clean sheets in five matches so far in their Nations League campaign. However, they still have concerns to address in defence as they prepare for the England Nations League quarter-final stage.
For one, in their Wembley win over Croatia, it was a defensive error that led to the visitors’ only goal.
England’s lead was cancelled out in the 59th minute after Jarell Quansah‘s underhit header back to Jordan Pickford allowed Petar Sucic to pounce and score.
Beyond Quansah’s mistake, though, England have looked uncomfortable playing from the back when under pressure, with the defence also looking shaky during dead-ball situations.
Croatia’s equaliser came from a corner, with England failing to clear their lines before Sucic reacted quickest to the loose ball. It was a particularly concerning moment given that Tuchel has placed considerable emphasis on his side maintaining their defensive structure.
The Three Lions also had to withstand further pressure towards the end of the game, with Nikola Vlasic firing narrowly wide before Ante Budimir headed over in stoppage time from a corner.
Tuchel also admitted that his side struggled against Croatia’s back five.
“It took us a while to figure the press out because they played in a back five. It needed a lot of communication because we wanted to stay in our structure,” the German admitted.
While England eventually found ways around Croatia’s defensive setup, it may not be so easy against teams that are not only organised defensively, but are stronger in attack, particularly during the England Nations League quarter-finals.
The knockout stages could include some of Europe’s most dangerous attacking sides, making it important for Tuchel to address these defensive lapses before the England Nations League quarter-final fixtures.
England have conceded just four goals in their five group matches, which is a respectable record. However, their recent performance against Croatia suggests that there is still room for improvement, particularly when dealing with pressure and set-pieces.
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Their Reliance on Harry Kane
Against Croatia, Harry Kane made history, making his 126th England appearance to become the most-capped player from the nation. He celebrated the achievement with his 92nd Three Lions goal.
While it is great for England that the 2026 Ballon d’Or winner keeps scoring, it is concerning that he is often the lifeline that they cannot seem to survive without.
In their five Nations League matches so far, Kane has scored in every fixture, registering seven goals and an assist.
That means the Bayern Munich striker has been directly involved in half of England’s 16 goals in the competition, highlighting just how important he has been to their attacking output.
Against Croatia, Kane was involved in the build-up to Morgan Rogers’ opener before converting the penalty that secured all three points.
His ability to contribute beyond simply finding the back of the net is another reason why he remains so important to Tuchel’s side.
However, they need to ensure that their attacking threat does not become too dependent on their captain, particularly when facing teams capable of limiting his involvement, which is likely in the England Nations League quarter-final stage.
There have been positive contributions from the likes of Rogers, Jude Bellingham and Anthony Gordon, but England still need greater consistency from their wider attacking options.
Their England Nations League quarter-final campaign will likely bring tougher defensive challenges, and opponents will be aware of the threat Kane poses.
If they can successfully limit his opportunities, Tuchel will need other players to step up and provide the goals that could make the difference.
It is also worth considering what happens if Kane is unavailable. At 33, the England captain remains in excellent form, but having sufficient attacking depth is essential for a team hoping to compete for silverware.
Extra Time Notes
England Nations League quarter-final qualification has given Tuchel another opportunity to compete for a major international trophy, but the Croatia result showed that there is still work to do.
With Spain next on the schedule, England have an immediate opportunity to test themselves against one of Europe’s strongest sides before turning their attention to the knockout stages.
For Tuchel, addressing the defensive concerns and reducing his side’s reliance on Kane could be just as important as securing the England Nations League quarter-final qualification in the first place.
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