Level 1 — Absolute Beginner
Croatia plays England today in football. It is a Nations League game. The game starts at four in the afternoon, London time.
The stadium will be almost empty. Fans cannot come. This is because of trouble with fans in a game against France in March 2025.
Both teams lost to Spain before. Now they both want points.
- football
- a game played with a ball and two goals
- stadium
- a big place where people watch sport
- fan
- a person who loves a team
- empty
- with nobody inside
- team
- a group that plays together
- lost
- did not win
- points
- numbers that show who is winning
- trouble
- a problem
Level 2 — Elementary
Croatia host England on Saturday, October 3, in the UEFA Nations League. The match kicks off at 16:00 GMT, which is 5 p.m. in England.
There will be almost nobody in the stadium. Croatia is paying for trouble among fans during its Nations League quarterfinal against France in March 2025.
Both teams are chasing points. England lost their first game to Spain, then beat Czechia 2-0. Croatia beat Czechia 2-1 and then lost 4-1 to Spain.
- host
- to play a game at your own stadium
- kick off
- to start a football match
- quarterfinal
- a game in the last eight of a competition
- nobody
- no person
- chase
- to try hard to get something
- beat
- to win against
- match
- a game of sport
- quarter
- one of four equal parts
Level 3 — Intermediate
Croatia welcome England to a stadium that will be almost entirely empty on Saturday, October 3, for a UEFA Nations League match that kicks off at 16:00 GMT. The closed doors are a punishment for crowd disturbances during Croatia's Nations League quarterfinal against France in March 2025.
Both sides arrive with something to prove. England opened with a defeat against Spain before bouncing back with a 2-0 win over Czechia. Croatia began with a 2-1 victory over Czechia but were then beaten 4-1 by Spain, leaving two former World Cup finalists level on the sense that a result is needed.
The setting adds a strange twist. Without a home crowd, Croatia lose a traditional source of energy, while England's players will hear every shout on the pitch. For two teams with strong attacking talent, the game may come down to which one handles the unusual atmosphere better.
- disturbance
- an event that disrupts public order
- closed doors
- a match played without spectators
- punishment
- a penalty for doing something wrong
- bounce back
- to recover after a setback
- former
- earlier, but not now
- twist
- an unexpected development
- atmosphere
- the feeling in a place
- attacking
- aimed at scoring goals
Level 4 — Advanced
Croatia will host England on Saturday, October 3, in a stadium all but empty of spectators, a sanction imposed after the crowd disturbances that marred their Nations League quarterfinal against France in March 2025. The UEFA Nations League tie kicks off at 16:00 GMT.
Both teams arrive needing a response. England stumbled in their opener, beaten by Spain, before steadying with a 2-0 win over Czechia. Croatia, by contrast, began promisingly with a 2-1 victory over Czechia but were then overwhelmed 4-1 by the same Spanish side, an uncomfortable reminder of the gap at the top of the group.
The surroundings will be unfamiliar to everyone. Stripped of a roaring home crowd, Croatia forfeit what has historically been a decisive advantage, while England may find that a hushed arena removes some of the pressure that usually accompanies away fixtures. Instructions will carry across the pitch, and every misplaced pass will echo. In such a vacuum, composure and experience may prove worth more than raw talent.
- sanction
- a penalty imposed for breaking rules
- marred
- spoiled
- stumbled
- made a mistake or performed poorly
- overwhelmed
- defeated heavily
- forfeit
- to lose or give up
- hushed
- very quiet
- vacuum
- a state in which nothing fills the space
- composure
- a calm, controlled state of mind
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