Alex Scott Makes His Mark As England Cruise To 7-0 Win Over Croatia

Alex Scott made his first England start count on Saturday, producing an assured midfield performance as the Three Lions swept aside Croatia 7-0 at the Stadion HNK in Rijeka.

The Bournemouth midfielder played 70 minutes of an emphatic victory which saw England record a ninth consecutive away win and strengthen their position in second place in League A Group 3 of the UEFA Nations League.

For Thomas Tuchel, it was another opportunity to assess Scott at international level - and the 23-year-old gave his manager plenty to consider.

Tuchel had already spoken highly of Scott before handing him his first competitive start, highlighting the midfielder's performances in training and his impressive debut.

"He did so well in training and he did so well when he had his debut. He brings the full package. He has legs," Tuchel told ITV.

The England boss also pointed to Scott's versatility and his ability to execute different aspects of the team's tactical plan.

"He's good in defending, good in the high press, very smooth on the ball. Good decision-making at the moment, that's why he has our trust."

Those qualities were evident from the outset.

Scott started in a double pivot alongside Elliott Anderson and appeared particularly comfortable operating as the deeper of the two midfielders. Rather than forcing the issue, he frequently dropped towards the defence to offer an outlet, collected possession from England's centre-backs and moved the ball quickly into the feet of the wide players.

There was a maturity to his performance that belied his relative inexperience at international level.

Just eight minutes into the contest, Scott was involved in the move that opened the scoring. Receiving the ball from Marc Guehi, he immediately looked forward and found Jude Bellingham, who in turn set up Harry Kane to emphatically fire England ahead and score his 88th international goal.

It was a small but significant indication of Scott's willingness to play forward when the opportunity presented itself.

As England assumed control, the Bournemouth midfielder continued to combine defensive discipline with progressive passing. He snapped into challenges, found pockets of space and repeatedly offered himself as an option when England needed to recycle possession.

At times, the experience of Luka Modric and Mateo Kovacic was rendered almost irrelevant as England dominated both possession and territory.

Tuchel had called for a "complete performance in all aspects" before kick-off, and Scott's contribution fitted neatly into what ultimately became arguably England's most comprehensive display of the manager's tenure.

Kane added a second, while Bukayo Saka struck twice and Jude Bellingham, Anthony Gordon and Morgan Rogers also found the net as England dismantled Croatia in devastating fashion.

For Scott, however, the significance of the evening extended beyond the scoreline.

The fixture had originally been scheduled to take place behind closed doors, but a UEFA loophole allowed 6,000 schoolchildren aged 14 and under to attend.

With Scott himself closer in age to many of those watching than England captain Kane, there was something fitting about the Bournemouth midfielder producing such a composed performance in front of a generation who could soon be following his own career.

If Tuchel was looking for evidence that Scott can be trusted at this level, he certainly received plenty in Rijeka. And for the young supporters watching from the stands, they may well have witnessed the emergence of another England midfielder capable of becoming a familiar name on the international stage.