England on a high after historic rout of Croatia; tensions rise ahead of Republic of Ireland v Israel

England were on a high after a historic rout of Croatia, according to The Guardian's matchday live coverage on 4 October 2026 ahead of Nations League fixtures.

The live coverage reported tensions building ahead of the Republic of Ireland v Israel match.

The Manchester City story has overshadowed the international break and Jonathan Wilson has entered the debate. Fans on forums and social media shared a mixture of sadness, anger and anxiety; most believe Alexander has left the club stronger, while a sizeable minority voiced frustration about the timing less than two months into a season after a summer spent recruiting specifically for his aggressive, direct, high-pressing football.