Seven Goals, One Walkout, One Verdict: The Week That Shook Football

Some weeks in football feel like a whole season packed into seven days like (England vs Croatia 7-0). First, England wrote a new chapter in Rijeka. Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo turned a seat on the bench into an international incident. Finally, Manchester City received the verdict they have waited years for.

England vs Croatia 7-0 and the Week That Shook Football

England vs Croatia 7-0 was the headline result of a wild week in football. First, England wrote a new chapter in Rijeka. Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo turned a seat on the bench into an international incident. Finally, Manchester City received the verdict they have waited years for.

England vs Croatia 7-0: A Historic Night in Rijeka

To begin with, nobody expected this scoreline. Croatia lost 7-0 to England at home, the worst defeat in their national team’s history. Moreover, the goals came from everywhere. Harry Kane scored in the 8th and 53rd minutes, Jude Bellingham in the 21st, Anthony Gordon in the 39th, Bukayo Saka in the 45th and 68th, and Morgan Rogers in the 87th. In addition, Bellingham set up three of them.

England were in control early. As a result, they led 4-0 at halftime, and the win is their biggest margin against a FIFA top-50 team since the rankings began in 1992.

However, England vs Croatia 7-0 means more than the score. England lost the World Cup semifinal to Argentina after leading with six minutes to play, so this was a chance to show they had moved on. They did exactly that, and against a Croatia side that reached the 2018 World Cup final and the 2022 semifinals. Consequently, the mood in Rijeka was heavy for the hosts. Croatia captain Luka Modric admitted he felt ashamed for the first time in his national team career.

Ronaldo Leaves the Camp

On the other hand, Portugal’s week took a very different turn. After Jorge Jesus confirmed that Ronaldo would sit on the bench for a second straight Nations League game, the star walked out of the camp in Copenhagen. The tension had been building for days. Indeed, Ronaldo had already watched the entire 2-1 win over Norway from the bench.

Therefore, the federation stepped in. President Pedro Proença travelled to Denmark to calm things down. Even so, it was not enough. Ronaldo wrote on Instagram that he decided to leave after the coach’s press conference and a talk with the president.

Still, the team did not fall apart. Instead, they answered on the pitch. Portugal beat Denmark 4-2 away, their third win in three Nations League games. Furthermore, the match had a sting in the tail, because Denmark’s Rasmus Højlund scored and copied Ronaldo’s “Siu” celebration.

As a result, Portugal and Ronaldo now face a hard question. He is the all-time leading men’s international scorer with 146 goals, yet his place in this team no longer looks guaranteed. Ultimately, this could be a short row, or it could be the start of the end of his Portugal career.

The Big Extra: Man City Found Guilty

Beyond the international games, English football received a decision that could shape the Premier League for years. An independent commission found City guilty of all charges relating to serious financial breaches over nine seasons, from 2009/10 to 2017/18. It also upheld three of the four charges about failing to cooperate with the investigation. Notably, Premier League chief executive Richard Masters called it the most significant case in the league’s history.

City reacted quickly. In fact, the club lodged a comprehensive appeal at 7pm on 1 October. At the same time, they say the ruling contains material errors of law, principle and fact. This matters because any sanctions or points deductions will be delayed until the appeal is finished.

Meanwhile, the options for City are limited. A new three-person commission will hear the appeal. City cannot go to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, although they could challenge the process in the High Court. Either way, the punishment, and the damage to City’s titles, will be one of the biggest stories of the season.

What Comes Next

Looking ahead, three questions stand out:

• England: Can they keep this level up for the rest of the Nations League campaign?
• Ronaldo: Does he return to the squad, or is this the end of his time with Portugal?
• Man City: What punishment follows once the appeal ends?