Former England defender Gary Neville has insisted that France remain his pick to win the World Cup, despite England's scintillating second-half performance in their opening 4-2 victory over Croatia.
England's second-half demolition
England recovered from a chaotic first half to overwhelm Croatia in Group L, with Neville singling out the team's display immediately after the restart as the finest football of the tournament to date.
"The way in which England played in that first 10, 15 minutes of the second half was probably the best 10, 15 minutes we've seen from any team in the tournament so far," Neville told Sky Sports. "That's not to get carried away because I know there's a long way to go and a game of football isn't over 10 or 15 minutes."
Neville was particularly impressed by Thomas Tuchel's bold in-game management, especially the triple substitution when England led 3-2.
"I thought when England were 3-2 up you don't see many managers making those type of substitutions. The volume of substitutions, three of them all at once, but also putting Jude Bellingham back into central midfield alongside Elliot Anderson was a really attacking move. Not many managers would do that."
France still the team to beat
Despite England's explosive start, Neville is sticking with his pre-tournament prediction that France will go all the way.
"I said France before the tournament that I thought they would win it. I'm not going to change that now," he said. "I don't think we've seen enough yet. It's too early in the tournament and it's certainly too early to say that England are going to go and win it. I know that's probably what people want to hear. It was a really good start for us. There's a long way to go."
Kane and Bellingham earn special praise
Neville reserved special words for captain Harry Kane, whom he described as England's only genuine world-class talent.
"There are some great strikers who have played for England over the last 100 years but he is so special. He's genuinely, I do believe right now, the only world-class player we have. Harry Kane is there. He's absolutely on top of that mountain right now. Collectively England are strong, they're very strong."
The Bayern Munich striker scored in the win, while Bellingham ran the show from midfield and earned similar acclaim.
"He is a superstar. Watching him in the tunnel before the game, he looked so relaxed, like he belongs, like this is something that he does every single day very easily. I thought he was excellent last night. Whether he was playing in that No 10 role, whether he was playing a little bit deeper towards the end, he was outstanding and arguably England's best player."
Key Takeaways
- England's second-half blitz: Neville believes the 15-minute spell after the break was the best football seen at the World Cup so far.
- Tuchel's courage: The manager's attacking triple substitution at 3-2 earned high praise for its bravery.
- France remain favourites: Neville is not changing his pre-tournament pick despite England's impressive start.
- Kane is world-class: The England captain is hailed as the only current world-class operator in the squad.
- Bellingham's star rising: The midfielder's composure and versatility drew comparisons to a seasoned superstar.
Quick Facts
Match Result: England 4-2 Croatia
Stage: World Cup 2026, Group L
Next Fixture: England vs Ghana
Neville's Tournament Favourite: France
England's Star Performers: Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham