England came through a stern test to open their 2026 World Cup campaign as they claimed a thrilling 4-2 win over Croatia thanks to a superb second-half showing.
The start to England’s latest quest to end a 60-year trophy drought was a frenetic one, with Harry Kane twice giving Thomas Tuchel’s side the lead in the first half, only for Croatia to peg them back each time.
Kane broke the deadlock with a 12th-minute penalty that had to be retaken, though his opener was cancelled out by a fierce strike from Martin Baturina.
Bayern Munich star Kane made it 2-1 in the 42nd minute with a simple close-range header, but Croatia again responded with a brilliantly worked goal from Petar Musa late in first-half stoppage time.
Yet England were much improved in the second half, and they were ahead two minutes after the restart as Jude Bellingham responded to Tuchel’s message that he would have to fight for his place with a fine I individual goal.
Dominik Livakovic kept Croatia in the game as the goalkeeper repelled a host of chances in an England onslaught, but Marcus Rashford wrapped up the points as England took a huge step towards the knockout rounds with victory in what is likely to be the toughest game they will face in Group L.
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Kane equals Lineker but Croatia twice hit back
Luka Modric, winning his 199th Croatia cap at the age of 40, gifted England the opening goal as he fouled Noni Madueke after a corner was only half cleared.
It looked as if Modric’s blushes would be spared when Livakovic kept out a poor penalty from Kane. However, the England captain was given a second chance as encroachment by Josko Gvardiol saw referee Clement Turpin order a retake, with replays also showing Livakovic had strayed from his line.
Kane did not repeat his mistake, emphatically finding the bottom corner with his second attempt from 12 yards.
England failed to build on that goal, though, and Baturina punished them in style as he met Petar Sucic’s lay-off with a rasping strike that flew into the net despite England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford getting a hand to it.
Poor marking from Croatia allowed Kane to restore England’s lead as he was given the straightforward task of turning a free header home from Declan Rice’s corner.
That goal saw Kane tie Gary Lineker’s record for the most goals by an England player in the World Cup with 10, but the celebrations did not last long as Croatia levelled through an excellent team move
Ivan Perisic timed his run perfectly as he latched onto Mario Pasalic’s long ball forward, and his subsequent headed lay-off was met with a first-time finish from Musa that left Pickford with no chance.
Bellingham and Rashford seal England win
England were quickly back on the front foot in the second half and Bellingham provided the perfect reply to the message from his manager as he collected a sublime ball from Elliot Anderson and surged down the right before firing across Livakovic.
Bellingham was then denied a second by Livakovic before Nico O’Reilly sent a free header wide at the far post from another impressive corner delivery from Rice, who then stung the palms of the Croatia goalkeeper sought to establish a two-goal buffer.
Livakovic produced more heroics as he made a double save to keep out headers from O’Reilly and Anthony Gordon, with the Dinamo Zagreb keeper repeating the feat to thwart Kane twice in quick succession.
Having weathered that storm, Croatia went close as Marco Pasalic forced a strong save from Pickford, but Zlatko Dalic’s side were grateful to their goalkeeper again as Livakovic denied Djed Spence with a one-on-one stop.
But there was nothing Livakovic could do as Rashford made the game safe, cutting onto his right after collecting fellow substitute Bukayo Saka’s pass and bending the ball into the bottom-right corner.
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