England ready for revenge against Croatia in Uefa Nations League decider, says Ruben Loftus-Cheek

Ruben Loftus-Cheek has warned Croatia that England are ready to seize a measure of revenge for their World Cup semi-final defeat by beating them in Sunday’s UEFA Nations League decider.

The two sides meet at Wembley knowing that whoever wins will go through to the last four of the inaugural competition next June.

They drew 0-0 in their first encounter last month in a drab affair played behind closed doors in Croatia. But it will be a different story at Wembley in two days’ time, with the game already sold out.

Croatia set up the exciting finale by winning a thrilling game against League A Group 4 leaders Spain 3-2 last night, with the decisive strike coming deep in injury time. Loftus-Cheek was part of Gareth Southgate’s World Cup squad that lost out to the Croatians in agonising fashion in Moscow four months ago but insists the players are determined to get the better of them this time around.

“Sunday is a massive game — it is winner takes all,” said the Chelsea midfielder. “We are ready to give them a challenge. We believe we can win. We are definitely all up for it. Nerves can come and go, but I don’t think we will be too nervous to play well. The game will come naturally to us and we will take it to them.

“It’s not just showing to other people we can do it — more importantly, it is to show it to ourselves, as a team, that we can win against Croatia.

“We were unlucky in the World Cup semi-final and when we played them last time in the Nations League.

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“We will look to play our best football — I felt we had a lot of chances to score in the last game against them. It will definitely be a good test for us and both sides will want to win.”

Meanwhile, Southgate’s men prepared with a comfortable 3-0 victory over USA at Wembley last night to give Wayne Rooney the perfect send-off on his 120th and final cap.

Key players like Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling and John Stones were on the bench, while Jordan Henderson, Eric Dier, Marcus Rashford and Loftus-Cheek were brought on in the second half, when the game was effectively already won.

Fine strikes from Jesse Lingard and Trent Alexander-Arnold put the home side 2-0 up after 27 minutes, before debutant Callum Wilson added a third with 13 minutes remaining.

The stakes will be much higher for the Three Lions against Croatia, though, as defeat or a score draw will see them relegated to League B.

Loftus-Cheek believes it is a major positive that England will be in a situation where they have to perform under pressure.

“It will be more of a tense atmosphere because it’s a must-win,” he added. “These games are the best to play in.

“As a footballer, you want to play in an occasion like this, not a friendly. You want to be involved in games that matter.

“That applies to next June, too, if we get through, because we could be in a semi-final and final of the UEFA Nations League, rather than two friendlies.

“That is what football is all about: winning big games, winning big things, so there will a lot on the line this Sunday.

“Croatia obviously beat Spain and will be coming here with confidence, but we will be confident, too, after winning against the USA. We will also have fresh players, because many of them didn’t play against the USA.

“Will this give us a chance to show how much we have developed since we lost to them in July? Yes. We are always trying to improve as a team.

“Gareth has been bringing young players in — he is looking toward the future as well. They have been implemented into the squad and that is only good for the future.”