England 4-2 Croatia: Harry Kane at the double as Three Lions make impressive start to World Cup
- England defeated Croatia 4-2 in their 2026 World Cup Group L opener yesterday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, with England captain Harry Kane scoring twice alongside goals from Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford.
- The match served as a high-stakes rematch of the 2018 World Cup semi-final, where Croatia defeated England 2-1 after extra time; England sought to rewrite the script against their familiar foe in Dallas.
- After VAR confirmed Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic encroached, referee Clement Turpin ordered a penalty retake, allowing Kane to score his 10th World Cup goal and draw level with former England forward Gary Lineker's record.
- Victory positions England atop Group L heading into Tuesday's match against Ghana in Foxborough, Massachusetts, before concluding their group-stage campaign against Panama on June 27 at MetLife Stadium.
- Manager Thomas Tuchel's roster selection faced pre-tournament scrutiny for omitting established stars, but this victory validates his tactical gamble and positions his squad for a smooth passage into the knockout phase.
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381 Articles
Harry Kane meets twice at the opening of the World Cup – and collects clear criticism. Dietmar Hamann doubts that the Bayern striker can lead England to the title.
England survives tenacious Croatia squad in World Cup opener at Dallas Stadium
It was billed as one of the marquee Group L matchups of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and England vs. Croatia delivered in spectacular fashion Tuesday afternoon at Dallas Stadium. In a game that swung wildly in both directions, England ultimately pulled away for a 4-2 victory – but not before Croatia made things uncomfortable. The 92-degree Texas sun beat down on the crowd outside the stadium, but inside, the Texas air conditioning kept fans cool for…
Harry Kane is criticized by Didi Hamann in spite of a double pack in England's World Cup opening victory against Croatia, which is also a gloomy World Cup forecast.
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