England vs. Croatia was a Group L match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a thrilling encounter that lived up to its billing.
Match Overview
England kicked off their 2026 World Cup campaign with a thrilling 4-2 victory over Croatia in a high-tempo Group L clash at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas. The match, played on June 17, 2026, was a repeat of the 2018 World Cup semi-final, a game Croatia won to dash England’s hopes. In sweltering conditions with a “feels like” temperature of 42°C, England captain Harry Kane scored a first-half brace, with further goals from Jude Bellingham and substitute Marcus Rashford securing the win.
First Half: A Rollercoaster
The match began with immediate drama. England was awarded a penalty after Luka Modrić fouled Noni Madueke. Harry Kane’s initial spot-kick was saved by Croatian goalkeeper Dominik Livaković, but the kick was ordered to be retaken after VAR ruled Livaković had moved off his line. Kane made no mistake with his second attempt, slotting home to give England a 1-0 lead in the 12th minute.
Croatia responded with resilience. In the 36th minute, Martin Baturina collected a cut-back on the edge of the area and unleashed a powerful strike that beat England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, leveling the score at 1-1.
England regained the lead just six minutes later. In the 42nd minute, Kane rose highest to head home a corner from Declan Rice, scoring his second goal of the match and equaling Gary Lineker’s England World Cup scoring record of 10 goals.
However, Croatia struck back on the stroke of halftime. In the 5th minute of added time, Ivan Perišić nodded a pass towards the far post, where an unmarked Petar Musa tapped in to make it 2-2 at the break.
Second Half: England’s Dominance
The second half was a different story, as England came out with renewed intensity. Just two minutes after the restart, Jude Bellingham received a long pass from Elliot Anderson, drove into the area, and drilled a powerful shot past Livaković to restore England’s lead at 3-2.
England continued to press for more goals, but Livaković produced a series of saves to keep Croatia in the game. The Three Lions’ pressure finally paid off in the 85th minute when substitute Marcus Rashford, who had just come on, curled a composed finish into the far corner to seal the 4-2 victory.
Key Players & Post-Match Reaction
- Harry Kane (England): The captain was the star of the show with two crucial first-half goals. He acknowledged the team’s first-half defensive lapses but praised the manager’s halftime talk and the team’s second-half intensity.
- Jude Bellingham (England): The young midfielder was a constant threat, scoring a vital goal early in the second half and being described as “outstanding”.
- Marcus Rashford (England): Coming on as a substitute, he provided the insurance goal with a calm finish in the 85th minute.
- Dominik Livaković (Croatia): Despite conceding four goals, the Croatian keeper made several important saves to prevent the scoreline from being even more one-sided.
Aftermath
The victory placed England at the top of Group L, while the defeat left Croatia at the bottom after the first round of matches. The result was a statement of intent from England, confirming their status as one of the tournament’s leading contenders.