By Sachit Subba • Football • Jun 18, 2026 03:06 AM • 192 views
DALLAS — Some openers ease a team into a tournament, while others test their nerve from the first whistle. England faced the latter on Wednesday night. After a first half that nearly unravelled into another Croatian nightmare, they regrouped and roared back in the second half. The 4-2 victory will live long in the memory of everyone packed into Dallas Stadium for this Group L curtain-raiser.
England still carries the scars of 2018, when Croatia's extra-time heroics crushed a World Cup dream that had promised so much. Early on, the dread was palpable. Yet by the final whistle, Thomas Tuchel’s players erupted in joyful celebration. Harry Kane struck twice, with Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford igniting hope as their goals dragged England through a nerve-shredding contest that swung wildly from one end to the other.
A nervy start, then a piece of penalty theatre
England needed only twelve minutes to win the contest's first big moment. After Noni Madueke burst into the box and drew a clumsy challenge from Luka Modric, Kane stepped up to take the penalty. His spot-kick was initially beaten away by Dominik Livakovic, but the goalkeeper's early dart off his line forced a retake. This time, the captain made no mistake, drilling his effort into the bottom corner to send England ahead.
Croatia never fold quietly. They roared back in the 36th minute. Martin Baturina curled a venomous, desperate effort toward the goal. Jordan Pickford could only glove it, not gather—watching in agony as the ball squirmed over the line, shattering England’s treasured run of ten straight clean sheets in competitive fixtures.
If that goal stung, what followed six minutes later brought relief: Kane, unmarked from a corner, rose to meet Declan Rice's delivery and steered a header beyond Livakovic. This was his 81st England goal and his tenth at a World Cup, drawing him level with Gary Lineker atop the nation's all-time tournament scoring charts.
"It's a defeat and definitely not an easy one," Croatia boss Zlatko Dalic admitted afterwards, conceding his side's set-piece defending had let them down despite some "excellent goals" of their own. "It's okay, we have another two matches, and we'll try to correct it."
Croatia level things up — and Tuchel loses his cool
England's lead lasted barely a moment in football terms. Ivan Perisic glanced a header into the path of Petar Musa, who slotted home with the calm of a man unbothered by the occasion, levelling matters at 2-2 right before the interval. It was enough to send Tuchel storming down the tunnel, visibly incensed by what he'd witnessed from his backline.
Whatever message the German delivered landed instantly. At halftime, Kane reflected, "I thought it was a game of two halves, really. Credit to the manager—he gave us a speech and said, 'Look, if we lose, we lose. We're losing our way.'" As the second half began, he added, "The way we came out, we went full gas. They couldn't live with it."
Two minutes after the restart, Bellingham electrified the moment. He picked up possession on the right, surged inside with determination, and finished low past Livakovic off the inside of the post. The crowd erupted as England’s lead was restored, and the stadium pulsed with energy.
"It's my responsibility to the team and to my country to give everything I have when I cross the line and wear that badge on the front, wear that number 10 on the back," Bellingham said of the moment. "It wasn't one of those where it was a big drama at halftime. He wasn't standing up, shouting. It was just what the team needed."
From there, England's bench made the difference. When Bukayo Saka came on in the 85th minute, his cross soon found Rashford, who needed only one touch to finish and put the result beyond doubt. Then, in stoppage time, Croatia had one last sniff. Josko Gvardiol's effort looked destined for goal, but Kane — of all people — scrambled back and cleared off the line.
What does it mean going forward?
Three points are banked for England, but Tuchel can't ignore the sting of those defensive cracks Croatia exposed. Urgency grows—England must steel themselves before clashing with Ghana in Boston next Tuesday. For Croatia, the inquest is no mere formality: anguish and hope collide as Dalic's side now stares down a must-win meeting with Panama in Toronto on June 23, fighting to keep their campaign alive.
