Super Saturday Matchday: Croatia v England, Spain v Czechia Live

Super Saturday is here, and Group A3 plays twice in one day. At 17:00 BST, Croatia vs England kicks off behind closed doors in Rijeka — second against third, silence against stakes, live on ITV1. At 20:45 local, Spain vs Czechia closes the night in a sold-out Oviedo — the champions going nine from nine. And Friday already delivered: France 1–1 Italy at the Stade de France. This is the matchday guide: both games, both predicted XIs, last night’s fallout, and how to watch it all.

From the press box — Elena Marsh: Predicted XIs via SI/Livescore/Goal (predicted, not official); kickoff/ref/TV via SI (Jablonski, 12pm ET) and 101greatgoals (ITV1/STV/ITVX); Oviedo details via Goal/karlobag (20:45, sold out); France–Italy via ESPN/Guardian (1–1 FT); table via HNS (Spain 6, England 3, Croatia 3, Czechia 0). Reported scores only — never invented, no odds, no tips.

17:00 BST: Croatia vs England, empty

Stadion Rujevica, Rijeka — 17:00 BST (18:00 local), behind closed doors, ITV1/STV + ITVX, referee Sven Jablonski (GER). The strangest away day of the autumn is here: ~100 travel-club members and schoolchildren in the ground, thousands in the city’s pubs, millions on free-to-air TV. Croatia (predicted 4-2-3-1): Livaković; Stanišić, Šutalo, Vušković, Gvardiol; Modrić, Kovačić; L. Sučić, Baturina, Perišić; Matanović — Modrić conducting at 39, Gvardiol the modern engine, Bilić’s side needing a result after Seville’s lesson. England (predicted): Pickford returns (Trafford’s two-game audition done); Alexander-Arnold, Konsa or Guehi, Branthwaite, Hall; Anderson with Rice or Scott; Saka, Bellingham (niggle permitting) or Rogers, Gordon; Kane. Second vs third, winner chases Spain, draw freezes everything till November. Ninety silent minutes — listen for the calls, watch the shape, notice who talks.

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20:45: Spain vs Czechia, full house

Carlos Tartiere, Oviedo — 20:45 local, sold out. The contrast game: last night’s silence gives way to a full Asturian night for the world champions. Spain (6 from 6, 40 unbeaten, Yamal electric) host pointless Czechia (0 from 2, ten men on Tuesday, Denia under pressure) — the group leaders going nine from nine against the group’s last-chance saloon. Oviedo sold out at source; the secondary market tells the demand story. Watch Yamal’s third act in eight days, whether Denia’s shape survives Seville-plus-Oviedo in five days, and whether the unbeaten run reaches 41. Then Tuesday: Croatia vs Spain in Split (Poljud) — the return leg four days later, the group potentially decided by it.

Last night: France 1–1 Italy

Friday belonged to Saint-Denis: France 1–1 Italy at the Stade de France — the hosts held at home, a point apiece in Group A1. France 7 points (wins over Türkiye and Belgium, now the draw), Italy 1 (defeat plus draw) — with Belgium’s and Türkiye’s Friday games settling the rest of the table. For France: top (provisionally, pending rivals), unbeaten, and a Monday home date with Belgium (Oct 5) that now shapes the group. For Italy: a first point, pride dented, November to come. French eyes today split between Longchamp’s runners and Rijeka’s silence — the sporting Saturday belongs to everyone.

The managers: Bilić vs Tuchel on the touchline

Two dugouts, two temperaments. Slaven Bilić leads Croatia into their first home game of the campaign — a manager who knows English football inside out and needs a result after Seville’s lesson. His selection leans on the old guard (Modrić conducting, Perišić wide) fused with the new wave (Gvardiol, Šutalo, Baturina, Sučić). Thomas Tuchel brings England’s deeper squad and the week’s noise quarantine — three days between games (a luxury after the two-day turnarounds), two sessions in Croatia, decisions on Bellingham, Konsa and the pivot. Bilić needs the night; Tuchel needs the group. Touchline chess in an empty ground — every instruction audible, every substitution a statement. Watch the 60th minute: BCD games open late, and both benches know it.

The table math: today’s permutations

Group A3 at kickoff: Spain 6, England 3, Croatia 3, Czechia 0. By midnight it moves twice. If England win + Spain win: England daylight second (6 pts, head-to-head cushion), Spain 9 and gone, Croatia stuck — the group becomes chase-the-leaders. If Croatia win: hosts second, England third, everything compresses — Tuesday’s Wembley becomes must-win. If Czechia shock Spain: the group explodes (and Tuesday’s Split return gets enormous). Draws: 2018’s ghost (0-0, same ground) keeps all alive. Two games, four teams, one table rewritten by midnight. Bring the index card; lose it by 19:00 BST.

The referee: Jablonski’s whistle

The man in the middle matters on silent nights: Sven Jablonski (GER) takes charge in Rijeka. Empty grounds amplify every decision — no crowd to sway, no noise to hide behind, every call echoing across 8,000 empty seats. For England: discipline (the Prague red went the other way; don’t invite symmetry), game management, no silly cards with Wembley Tuesday coming. For Croatia: the press must stay legal — Jablonski will hear every word, including Modrić’s. Referees decide nothing and influence everything; on BCD nights, the whistle is the loudest sound in the ground. Play clean, play smart, play eleven.

Watching the day: pubs, streams, patience

No Rijeka ticket? No problem. Rijeka: Korzo pubs from mid-afternoon, harbour squares for the anthems, singalong carrying to the water. Home: ITV1/STV from late afternoon for Croatia–England; Spain–Czechia on listings (check local guides). Between games: Arc day-1 results, PFW Saturday replays (CELINE noon, Hermès 3pm), Notte Bianca building in Valletta. After: full-time reactions, ratings, Tuchel quotes; Wembley Tuesday takes shape. One screen at a time, one street wherever you are. Super Saturday only happens once — be in it, loudly, even the silent parts. Come on England. Ninety minutes, one group, everything. The silence is ready — bring the noise. Come on. Now. Win.