An electric second-half performance saw England kick off their World Cup campaign with a 4-2 victory over Croatia in Dallas. In a breathless contest at the AT&T Stadium, Thomas Tuchel's side showcased relentless attacking football, fuelled by Jude Bellingham's brilliance and a Harry Kane double, to take early control of Group L.
It was a reversal of the Southgate era, where defensive solidity often relied on moments of individual magic; here, England were nervy at the back but devastating going forward, registering 22 shots. The result sets up a fascinating clash with Ghana on Tuesday.
Kane's Double and Early Drama
England drew first blood after 12 minutes when Luka Modric was penalised for kicking Noni Madueke inside the box. Kane's initial spot-kick was saved by Dominik Livakovic, but the goalkeeper was off his line and Josko Gvardiol had encroached, forcing a retake. The captain made no mistake second time around.
Yet Croatia, largely outplayed, levelled against the run of play. A slip from John Stones allowed Martin Baturina to lash home from distance, stunning the England fans. The response was swift – Kane rose unmarked to head in Declan Rice's corner – but England's defensive fragility was exposed again deep into first-half stoppage time. Ivan Perisic nodded a chipped pass into the path of Petar Musa, who fired past Jordan Pickford, after Ezri Konsa had failed to cut out the danger.
Second-Half Surge: Bellingham's Brilliance
Whatever Tuchel said at the interval, it worked. England emerged a different beast and, just two minutes after the restart, Bellingham drove into the box from the right and rifled a shot into the far corner. The goal lifted the team and the tempo; from then on, Croatia were pinned back.
Livakovic produced a string of saves – denying Nico O'Reilly, Anthony Gordon and Konsa from a corner – to keep his side in the game, but England's dominance eventually told. Late on, substitutes Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford combined brilliantly, with Rashford sweeping home the fourth to put the result beyond doubt.
Tuchel and Neville React
"The first half was nervy and we struggled to find momentum. There were too many passes backwards. Even off the ball, we were not brave enough. I loved the reaction of the players in the second half. It took us a while to get going, but we did get going and that is the positive," Thomas Tuchel told ITV.
Former England defender Gary Neville highlighted the influence of Bellingham and Kane, telling ITV:
"The Jude Bellingham argument is over with. We can't be disrespectful to Morgan Rogers because he's a brilliant player. But Jude Bellingham is the top player. He and Kane in attack are the difference."Neville also praised the team's pressing, noting that Modric – substituted before the hour mark – was never allowed to dictate the tempo.
Key Takeaways
- Attacking depth is England's greatest weapon – with Kane, Bellingham, Saka and Rashford all on the scoresheet, Tuchel has a formidable array of firepower.
- Defensive concerns must be addressed – Stones' slip and Konsa's struggles highlight vulnerabilities that better sides may exploit.
- Bellingham is undroppable – his second-half goal and overall energy swung the match decisively in England's favour.
- A statement win – beating a Croatia side that has troubled England in the past breeds confidence for the campaign ahead.
Quick Facts
Final Score: England 4-2 Croatia
Venue: AT&T Stadium, Dallas, Texas
England Goalscorers: Harry Kane (12' pen, 42'), Jude Bellingham (47'), Marcus Rashford (85')
Croatia Goalscorers: Martin Baturina (36'), Petar Musa (45+5')
Next Match: England vs Ghana – Tuesday 23 June, 9pm BST
Read the full match report on Sky Sports and player ratings on FourFourTwo.
