Jude Bellingham is congratulated by Harry Kane after scoring England’s third goal against Croatia.@Maria Lysaker/Imagn Images/Reuters
England commenced their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign in spectacular fashion, overcoming Croatia 4-2 in a breathless Group L encounter at the Dallas Stadium. Under the guidance of Thomas Tuchel, the Three Lions delivered a scintillating performance — inspired by a stunning Harry Kane double — that tested the nerves of the fans but ultimately showcased their immense attacking firepower.
Having waited patiently to make their entrance on the grandest stage, England played out an absolute cracker of a game, driven by captain Harry Kane’s brilliant first-half brace and a masterful midfield display from Jude Bellingham.
A Frantic First Half
Croatia started brightly, showing early attacking intent. Declan Rice was forced into a crucial second-minute intervention to block a dangerous low cross after Josip Sutalo found space from a corner. However, England’s first real threat quickly turned the tide. Noni Madueke made devastating inroads down the right flank, creating chaos in the Croatian box.
Following a blocked Kane shot, Madueke reacted quickest to a bouncing ball from the ensuing corner, nipping in ahead of Luka Modric before the Croatian veteran brought him down. Kane stepped up for the penalty, and while his initial effort was saved by Dominik Livakovic, encroachment from Josko Gvardiol gave him a second chance. Kane made no mistake with the retake, firing low into the corner on 12 minutes.
Croatia proved their resilience by equalizing against the run of play with a brilliant right-footed finish from Martin Baturina, which slipped just past Jordan Pickford’s fingertips. England responded swiftly, with Kane heading home from a corner after a perfectly timed late run. Yet, deep into first-half stoppage time, Ivan Perisic found Petar Musa, who calmly slotted home to send the teams into the break deadlocked at 2-2.
Second-Half Dominance
England emerged from the tunnel as a team transformed. Within two minutes of the restart, Bellingham took matters into his own hands. Finding space down the right channel, he drove powerfully into the box before drilling a shot into the far corner past Livakovic to restore the lead.
From there, it was a barrage of English pressure. Livakovic was forced to perform absolute heroics to keep Croatia in the tie. The goalkeeper produced a remarkable triple save, highlighting his agility with a strong hand to deny a bullet header from Nico O’Reilly.
While England struggled to find the cushion of a fourth goal, Croatia remained dangerous on the counter. Pickford had to be at his best 15 minutes from time to deny Marco Pasalic’s fierce drive. Ultimately, the tension was lifted in the 85th minute. Substitute Marcus Rashford received the ball in space, cut effortlessly inside the final defender, and slid the ball home to seal a crucial opening-day victory.
England fans can breathe a massive sigh of relief as Thomas Tuchel’s men successfully clear their first major hurdle on American soil, setting a dominant tone for the rest of Group L.
