England take on Croatia in their World Cup 2026 opener, in a rematch of the 2018 semi-final
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Welcome along to FourFourTwo's liveblog of England vs Croatia, the Three Lions' opening fixture of World Cup 2026!
England 4-2 Croatia
Harry Kane gave England the lead following a penalty, which needed retaking
Martin Baturina smashes one top bins to equalise
Kane restores England's lead with a header from a corner
Petar Musa grabs a second for the Croatians
Bellingham gives England the lead once again, with a driven shot beyond Livakovic
Rashford puts the game beyond doubt with a fourth
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There's just over two-and-a-half hours to go until England kick off their World Cup journey.
We're at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas for this one, as Thomas Tuchel's England face 2022's semi-finalists in Group L.
Preparation for this one has been far from ideal. Tino Livramento's injury yesterday meant a late substitution for the Three Lions, as Trevoh Chalobah got a last-minute flight out to the United States – and all of this comes off the back of England having a load of their gear stolen last week.
Still, let's hope they can evoke the spirit of Pickles in 1966 , and use the robbery as a springboard to glory.
First up, Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal have an appointment with DR Congo , live from 6pm.
How well do you know England? Try our ultimate Three Lions quiz…
In case you needed reminding of what happened the last time England and Croatia met at a World Cup…
Tonight is a chance for England to get some revenge – the Three Lions have since beaten Luka Modric and co. in the Nations League and the European Championship, let's not forget.
24 April 1996
England 0-0 Croatia
20 August 2003
England 3-1 Croatia
21 June 2004
Croatia 2-4 England
Euro 2004
11 October 2006
Croatia 2-0 England
Euro 2008 qualifiers
21 November 2007
England 2-3 Croatia
Euro 2008 qualifiers
10 September 2008
Croatia 1-4 England
World Cup 2010 qualifiers
9 September 2009
England 5-1 Croatia
World Cup 2010 qualifiers
11 July 2018
Croatia 2-1 England
World Cup 2018
12 October 2018
Croatia 0-0 England
18 November 2018
England 2-1 Croatia
13 June 2021
England 1-0 Croatia
Euro 2020
Remember, there's still time to play our World Cup predictor – and win £1,000 while you're at it!
England have arrived
Harry Kane wears a special World Cup patch tonight, in honour of a major achievement
You'll remember in 2018 when Harry Kane won the Golden Boot in Russia – well, to mark the occasion, FIFA have given him an embroidered patch for his England shirt sleeve. Nice.
Wh-where's the other one…?
The England team to face Croatia…
Your #ThreeLions to take on Croatia! 👊 pic.twitter.com/xLcO8Peaxl June 17, 2026
Your #ThreeLions to take on Croatia! 👊 pic.twitter.com/xLcO8Peaxl June 17, 2026
Jude Bellingham starts for England – elsewhere, it's James and O'Reilly at full-back, with Gordon starting over Rashford.
Tuchel speaks to ITV, calling it a “50/50 decision” as to who to pick at no.10 today.
“Both of them deserve to start,” says Thomas Tuchel about Bellingham and Rogers.
Croatia's XI for the game…
Josip Sutalo Luka Vuskovic Josko Gvardiol
Josip Stanisic Luka Modric Petar Sucic Ivan Perisic
Martin Baturina Petar Musa Mario Pasalic
How important will Bellingham be tonight?
This is the Real Madrid midfielder's second World Cup – and third tournament with England altogether.
Incredibly, he's still just 22 years old. To put things into context, if Bellingham plays for his country as long as Messi's been playing for his, he could appear at the 2042 World Cup.
And if he does, he'll appear at six tournaments for the Three Lions. Mad, eh?
We've just had the anthems, we're ready to go
Via a Refcam shot we enjoyed of Turpin shaking hands with the Croatian line-up.
And we're off!
Let's go!
Three minutes in and Croatia have been the ones applying the early pressure. A first corner comes to nothing but the 2022 semi-finalists are the ones taking the game to England.
England have a first corner. Madueke takes on Josko Gvardiol, passes back to Reece James, who drills a cross. Kane latches on and a shot deflects wide.
Declan Rice's corner is cleared out to Madueke, who is kicked by Luka Modric. Kane with a chance to put England 1-0 up.
SAVED! But…
Harry Kane watches Dominik Livakovic save his penalty… but will it be taken again?
Referee Clement Turpin is going to order the pen to be taken again, after Gvardiol encroaches into the penalty box.
GOAL: ENGLAND 1-0 CROATIA
IT'S HARRY KANE
Kane wasn't missing a second time, was he? Great spot kick.
Should Reece James have just conceded a penalty?
The right-back appeared to be stopping Petar Musa from getting to the ball, only for Bellingham to clear. Not enough contact for a spot-kick, mind.
Hydration break, now
England have settled down a little, now. The Three Lions have had a little more possession, with Bellingham having a decent run into the Croatia half, which came to no fruition.
Croatia coming into this one a little more. Kane just had a sloppy moment where he gave the ball away, but the Croatians are starting to get a little more on the ball after the water break.
Madueke with a cross on the counter, and Bellingham is inches away from making it 2-0!
Another two crosses into the box – one from James, one from Madueke – and both dealt with by Croatia. The game is fizzing nicely, with both sides showing intent. There's goals in this one.
GOAL FOR CROATIA! 1-1
It's Martin Baturina, and it's a cracker.
25 yards out and the midfielder has smashed it top bins, beyond Rice and the outstretched hand of Rice. Brilliant goal, to be fair.
GOAL! ENGLAND 2-1 CROATIA
HARRY KANE WITH A HEADER FROM A CORNER
Another look at that second Kane goal…
Captain Kane at the double 🫡He's now level with Gary Lineker for goals scored at a World Cup for England! pic.twitter.com/6omAZiHtaE June 17, 2026
Captain Kane at the double 🫡He's now level with Gary Lineker for goals scored at a World Cup for England! pic.twitter.com/6omAZiHtaE June 17, 2026
How important could set-pieces be at this tournament?
England have the might of Rice and Saka taking corners – and those two are the primary takers for Arsenal, who have scored more from dead balls than any other club in Europe over the past two years – but it's not the Gunners duo.
In the likes of Konsa, Burn and O'Reilly, there's plenty of height in this side, while Reece James offers a threat from free-kicks.
ENGLAND 2-2 CROATIA
The Three Lions switch off: we're going to VAR…
Goal given. Musa equalises.
HALF-TIME: ENGLAND 2-2 CROATIA
What a half.
ENGLAND 3-2 CROATIA
JUDE BELLINGHAM PUTS ENGLAND AHEAD!
We haven't even had time to tell you the second half had begun!
Bellingham smashes the ball against Livakovic: England have a corner. The Real Madrid man whips up the crowd (as if they need it).
Tuchel must have put a rocket up them.
O'Reilly misses a free header at the back post. He'll be gutted with that effort.
It's another corner. The Three Lions are purring.
England have stepped up the intensity and they're starting to batter Croatia with attacks now. That's more like it.
O'Reilly has another header, saved by Livakovic. It bounces back out to Gordon; the Croatian custodian stops again. Brilliant goalkeeping. Remains 3-2.
Kane with another double-shot; Livakovic with another double save. Kane gets a third chance; sometimes, it's kept out.
SUBSTITUTION: Modric off, Kovacic on, '57
The game's calmed down a bit. England are playing around their box a bit more. Probably not a good sign, given their defending tonight…
SUBSTITUTION for Croatia: Vuskovic and Musa off, Marko Pasalic and Matonovic on
Hydration break!
Morgan Rogers coming on, now.
SUBTITUTION FROM ENGLAND: Madueke, Rice and Gordon off; Saka, Rogers and Rashford on.
Pickford with a vital save to foil Pasalic on 75 minutes and keep it at 3-2. That's more like it from the keeper.
England have had 2.68 xG: Croatia just 0.38.
ENGLAND 4-2 CROATIA
Marcus Rashford's magic, y'know.
Harry Kane blocks the ball in England's box – Saka and Rashford race up the field and it's almost five. What an impact from those two subs, and what a performance from Sir Harold.
FULL-TIME: ENGLAND 4-2 CROATIA
And it's a win to start Group L!
So who performed and who didn't? Vote now!
Harry Kane has called it a game of two halves, with Tuchel described as giving a “speech” at half-time, of, “If we're going to lose, lose how we play”.
It was a much better second half from England. There's competition for places and it seemed like the intensity really ramped up when the Three Lions stopped worrying so much about the Croatians' attacking threat. Not to dig at Southgate, but that feels very… new.
Dominik Livakovic had a fantastic game – and he conceded four . The long-time Croatian shot-stopper kept his nation in the game with a series of saves early in that second half to restrict England to a one-goal lead.
Anthony Barry, assistant coach, spoke to ITV at half-time. Gary Neville has just claimed on ITV that he was worried that Barry's input may have been a little “vanilla”. He was wrong.
“He was absolutely fuming,” G-Nev says. “It told us a lot. I think that would have been quite forceful words, said at half-time.”
That'll be us for the night. Thanks for joining us! It's coming home, as ever.
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