England kicked off their World Cup 2026 Group L campaign with a pulsating 4-2 victory over Croatia in Dallas, but the scoreline masked a nervy defensive display. Harry Kane equalled the national team’s all-time World Cup finals scoring record, while Noni Madueke and Elliot Anderson shone in attack. Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic produced a string of outstanding saves to keep the score respectable. Here are the full player ratings from a breathless encounter.
England Player Ratings
- Jordan Pickford – 6: Could have done better with Baturina’s strike. Made a crucial late save to preserve the lead but looked shaky throughout.
- Reece James – 6: At fault for losing his man for Croatia’s second equaliser. Offered a threat going forward but defensively suspect.
- Ezri Konsa – 6: Struggled in the first half but improved after the break. His place could come under pressure from Marc Guéhi.
- John Stones (Manchester City) – 6: Looked rusty and nervy early on. Grew into the game but desperately needs more minutes.
- Nico O’Reilly – 7: Got forward at every opportunity and should have scored from a corner. Still a work in progress defensively.
- Elliot Anderson – 8: Kept things ticking over in midfield and delivered an excellent pass to set up Jude Bellingham’s goal.
- Declan Rice – 7: Whipped in a pinpoint corner for Kane’s header. Not his usual dominant self and looked fatigued after a long season.
- Noni Madueke – 8: Won the penalty and was a constant menace down the right flank in the absence of Bukayo Saka.
- Jude Bellingham – 7: Guilty of losing possession in the build-up to Croatia’s first goal, but made amends in style with a brilliant strike.
- Anthony Gordon – 6: On the periphery for most of the first half and couldn’t make a significant impact despite his endeavour.
- Harry Kane – 9: Played more like a quarterback than a striker at times, dropping deep to orchestrate, yet still equalled England’s World Cup finals scoring record with a poacher’s goal.
Substitutes: Marcus Rashford (for Gordon 72) – 7: Picked his spot brilliantly for a goal that even Livakovic couldn’t reach; Morgan Rogers (for Rice 72) – 6: Struggled in central midfield but delivered a superb ball to set up a chance for Spence; Bukayo Saka (for Madueke 72) – 7: A surprise introduction given injury concerns, but played a part in Rashford’s clincher; Djed Spence (for Bellingham 80) – 6: Should have scored moments after coming on but was denied by Livakovic; Marc Guéhi (for Stones 87) – 6: A late introduction when the game was already won.
Croatia Player Ratings
- Dominik Livakovic – 9: Rushed off his line too early for the penalty, but produced a string of unbelievable stops to keep rampant England at bay.
- Josip Sutalo – 5: Didn’t know whether to track Kane when he dropped deep and was caught out on more than one occasion.
- Luka Vuskovic (Tottenham) – 7: The teenager lost sight of Kane for England’s second goal, but his overall display showed why he is such a highly rated prospect.
- Josko Gvardiol (Manchester City) – 6: Had his hands full dealing with Madueke all night.
- Josip Stanisic – 7: A lively presence down the right flank and often got the better of O’Reilly.
- Luka Modric – 7: A surprise to see him concede an early penalty for a foul on Madueke, but the veteran still oozed class throughout.
- Mario Pasalic – 6: Tested Pickford with a decent strike just before half-time, but lost the midfield battle overall.
- Ivan Perisic – 7: Used all his experience with a clever header to set up Croatia’s second equaliser. Remarkable energy for a 37-year-old.
- Petar Sucic – 7: Delivered a brilliant assist for Baturina’s goal, but missed a great chance late on after a Pickford fumble.
- Martin Baturina (Como) – 7: Took his goal superbly and his direct running caused England problems all evening.
- Petar Musa (FC Dallas) – 7: Volleyed past Pickford with aplomb and was a real handful for England’s defence.
Substitutes: Mateo Kovacic (for Modric 58) – 6: Couldn’t wrestle back control apart from a brief five-minute spell; Marco Pasalic (for Vuskovic 66) – 6: Almost equalised soon after coming on but was denied by Pickford; Igor Matanovic (for Musa 66) – 6: Could do nothing about Rashford’s goal after Croatia were carved open; Nikola Vlasic (for Baturina 78) – 6: Tried to inject urgency in the final stages; Andrej Kramaric (for Mario Pasalic 79) – 7: A real handful in the last 10 minutes but couldn’t find an equaliser.
Key Takeaways
- Kane’s record-equalling night: Harry Kane’s goal made him England’s joint-highest scorer in World Cup finals history, underlining his status as the team’s talisman.
- Defensive frailties persist: England looked vulnerable at the back, particularly in the first half. Reece James and John Stones will need to improve against stronger opponents.
- Livakovic heroics in vain: The Croatian goalkeeper was superb, making several stunning saves to keep the scoreline from becoming embarrassing.
- Impact substitutes: Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka provided a late spark, with Rashford scoring a brilliant individual goal to seal the win.
- Midfield mix: Elliot Anderson impressed alongside Declan Rice, while Jude Bellingham’s goal masked an otherwise erratic performance.
Quick Facts
Match: England 4-2 Croatia
Competition: World Cup 2026, Group L
Venue: AT&T Stadium, Dallas
England Goals: Harry Kane (pen, 15; header 63), Jude Bellingham (53), Marcus Rashford (78)
Croatia Goals: Martin Baturina (27), Petar Musa (45+1)