England’s 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign began with fireworks as Thomas Tuchel’s side showcased both attacking brilliance and defensive vulnerability in a pulsating 4-2 win over Croatia, Softfootball reports.
Harry Kane was ruthless in front of goal, netting twice in the first half to equal Gary Lineker’s tally of 10 World Cup goals. Jude Bellingham added a third after the break, while substitute Marcus Rashford sealed the victory with a composed finish.
Croatia, however, exposed England’s defensive frailties. Ivan Perisic and Petar Musa both found the net, capitalising on lapses at the back. Despite the goals conceded, England’s attacking quality ultimately proved decisive, though Tuchel will be concerned about the ease with which Croatia breached his defense.
few minutes ago, Portugal 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign begin with a Frustrating 1-1 Draw against DR Congo
Player Ratings
England
| Player | Rating |
|---|---|
| Jordan Pickford | 6 |
| Nico O’Reilly | 6 |
| John Stones | 6 |
| Ezri Konsa | 6 |
| Reece James | 6 |
| Declan Rice | 7 |
| Elliot Anderson | 6 |
| Jude Bellingham | 8 |
| Anthony Gordon | 5 |
| Harry Kane | 9 (Man of the Match) |
| Noni Madueke | 6 |
| Subs: Morgan Rogers (6), Marcus Rashford (7), Bukayo Saka (7), Djed Spence (5), Marc Guehi (N/A) |
Croatia
| Player | Rating |
|---|---|
| Dominik Livakovic | 6 |
| Josko Gvardiol | 6 |
| Luka Vuskovic | 6 |
| Josip Sutalo | 6 |
| Ivan Perisic | 7 |
| Mario Pasalic | 6 |
| Luka Modric | 5 |
| Josip Stanisic | 6 |
| Martin Baturina | 7 |
| Petar Sucic | 7 |
| Petar Musa | 7 |
| Subs: Mateo Kovacic (6), Marco Pasalic (6), Igor Matanovic (5), Andrej Kramaric (N/A), Nikola Vlasic (N/A) |
Match Statistics
| Statistic | England | Croatia |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 57% | 43% |
| Total Shots | 14 | 10 |
| Shots on Target | 6 | 4 |
| Expected Goals (xG) | 2.41 | 1.38 |
| Fouls Committed | 11 | 13 |
| Yellow Cards | 2 | 2 |
| Red Cards | 0 | 0 |
| Corners | 6 | 5 |
| Saves | 2 | 2 |
