Harry Kane scored twice, including a retaken penalty, and Jude Bellingham struck just 90 seconds into the second half as England outlasted Croatia 4-2 in a pulsating Group L opener.
England opened their World Cup campaign with a thrilling 4-2 victory over Croatia at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, as Thomas Tuchel’s side took the lead three separate times before finally putting away a resilient Croatian outfit.
England struck early in the 12th minute when Harry Kane smashed home a penalty on his second attempt after Croatian goalkeeper Dominik Livaković was penalised for coming off his line during the first save. Croatia responded in the 36th minute with a thunderous strike from Martin Baturina, levelling the match.
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Kane restored England’s lead in the 42nd minute with a bullet header from a corner, but Dallas-based MLS forward Petar Musa equalised again for Croatia deep in first-half stoppage time, sending the teams into the break level at 2-2.
Just 90 seconds into the second half, Jude Bellingham electrified the stadium by slicing down the right side and burying a brilliant finish into the far corner to make it 3-2. Croatia pushed hard for a third equaliser, prompting veteran captain Luka Modrić to be substituted before the hour mark. Tuchel introduced fresh legs, and the move paid off in the 84th minute when Marcus Rashford latched onto a pass from Bukayo Saka to comfortably make it 4-2 and kill off the tie.
England dominated possession with 54 percent and registered 20 shots, 12 on target, while Croatia managed 11 shots, six on target. English passing accuracy stood at 88 percent compared to Croatia’s 87 percent.
Kane’s first-half brace marked his ninth and tenth career World Cup goals for England. Modrić, who started his 199th international cap, endured a disappointing outing as he conceded the first-half penalty and was substituted before the hour mark.
According to a report by Accra Street Journal, the match was the 12th official senior meeting between the two nations. England now hold seven wins compared to Croatia’s three, with two draws. The victory exacted long-standing revenge for England’s famous 2018 World Cup semi-final defeat to Croatia in Moscow.
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Predictable Lineups – Bef0re Kick0ff
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- England (4-3-3): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guehi, Trippier; Rice, Mainoo, Bellingham; Saka, Kane, Foden.
- Croatia (4-3-3): Livaković; Stanišić, Šutalo, Gvardiol, Sosa; Modrić, Kovačić, Pašalić; Kramarić, Budimir, Perišić.
Head-to-Head History
Last Updated on June 17, 2026 by Samuel Kwame Boadu
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Samuel Kwame Boadu is a Ghanaian media entrepreneur and storyteller with a passion for amplifying urban voices and uncovering everyday truths. He is the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Accra Street Journal, a dynamic digital platform dedicated to capturing the pulse of Ghana’s capital—its people, culture, challenges, business, sports and innovations.
