2026 World Cup: England hit Croatia hard as Tuchel already has his benchmark win

The Three Lions finally took the handbrake off

England have often had golden generations who played as if they were dragging a sack of bricks around on their backs. Talent everywhere, glamorous names, huge promise, and yet far too often there was that same old sense of caution, of holding back, of fear of making a mistake. For their 2026 World Cup opener against a Croatia side that never goes quietly in the big games, Thomas Tuchel’s team sent a different message.

A 4-2 win. Tempo, chances, pressing, runs, goals, decisive subs, Harry Kane already in boss mode and Jude Bellingham bursting out of the blocks after the break.

It was not perfect. At the back, the Three Lions still left gaps. But going forward, England looked sharper, livelier, more ambitious. The sort of performance that changes the mood around a team after one game.

Kane starts his World Cup like a captain

Harry Kane knew the tournament’s leading lights had already started making noise. He could not stay quiet. In the 12th minute, the England captain opened the scoring from the spot, even if it took two goes. Livakovic saved the first effort, but the Croatia keeper had moved off his line too soon. Second chance, same taker, instant punishment.

Kane did not just score. He then played like he does on his very best nights: as a No 9, a target man, a false quarterback, the hidden organiser of England’s attacks. He dropped deep, set the tempo, drew defenders and opened space.

In the 42nd minute, he made it 2-0 with a superb header from a Declan Rice corner. Two goals in one half, a constant presence, and even a late defensive block with his midriff. Full Kane. Useful everywhere.

Croatia never panicked in the first half

Even under the cosh, even rattled, Croatia never disappeared. That is almost their trademark now. The Vatreni know how to suffer without folding, wait for their moment, live off scraps and still hurt you.

In the 36th minute, Martin Baturina produced a vicious strike from the edge of the box to level it up. A rocket, set up after a high turnover and good work from Sucic. Pickford could do little about it. 1-1, against the run of play, but not out of nowhere.

Martin Baturina cleans out the top corner with a beauty to beat the England keeper ⚽️ Croatia are level in style.
England – Croatia, 1-1.

Suivez le match https://t.co/A2JlsawZr6 sur M6 et M6+#CDM2026 #FIFAWorldCup #ENGCRO pic.twitter.com/5LAVhQaO9n

— M6 – Coupe du Monde de la FIFA 2026™ (@M6) June 17, 2026

Croatia then conceded Kane’s second, but they struck back again just before the interval. In the 45th+5 minute, Petar Musa finished a superb flowing move from close range, with Perisic slipping in the clever final pass.

2-2 at the break. A wild first half, almost too open for a tournament opener.

Tuchel woke England up at half-time

The turning point may well have come in the dressing room. After the match, Kane explained Thomas Tuchel’s message: if England were going to lose, they had to lose on their terms, with their style. More aggression, more intensity, more risk.

The message landed straight away.

In the 47th minute, Jude Bellingham put England back in front. Set up by a brilliant pass from Elliot Anderson, the Real Madrid man attacked the space, powered through and finished with a clean strike from a tight angle. 3-2.

Jude Bellingham scores straight after the restart! He comes in from the right and curls it beautifully past Livakovic ⚽️
England lead 3-2.

Suivez le match https://t.co/A2JlsawZr6 sur M6 et M6+#CDM2026 #FIFAWorldCup #ENGCRO pic.twitter.com/743Ht92QiD

— M6 – Coupe du Monde de la FIFA 2026™ (@M6) June 17, 2026

That goal changed the feel of the game. For the next 10 minutes, England almost overwhelmed Croatia. Runs from everywhere, a higher press, quicker passing, sharper forward bursts. Livakovic had to make several saves, including one huge triple stop to keep his side alive.

Bellingham and Anderson, the modern heart of the Three Lions

Jude Bellingham did not get everything right, but he played with the kind of rare intensity that sets the tone for a whole team. Driving runs, duels, defensive recoveries, forward thrust, finishing. At times he forced it, but in a match like this, you live with the excess of a player trying to swing the game.

Alongside him, Elliot Anderson showed exactly why Tuchel seems to trust him so much. Interceptions, energy, bite in the tackles and, above all, that lovely pass for Bellingham’s goal. A real find in England’s midfield.

With Rice, quieter but still vital on set pieces and in keeping things balanced, England had a midfield with more movement than in years gone by. Less static. More willing to go forward.

Croatia had one last push

The game could have been put to bed earlier, but England wasted chances. And if you let Croatia hang around, they always find a way to make you sweat.

Late on, Pasalic forced Pickford into a key stop. Sucic also caused panic in the England box with a series of stepovers that left Stones looking uncomfortable. Croatia kept coming, Modric had already gone off, but the experience and pride were still there.

At 3-2, it could still have turned on one shot, one deflection, one England mistake. And Tuchel’s defenders did not all convince. James struggled against Perisic. O’Reilly had a rough night. Stones sometimes looked shaky against Croatia’s technique. Konsa mixed decent spells with lost duels.

England won, but they know they cannot always leave so much space behind them.

$0.99

7-day trial

Full Pro access.
Try it for $0.99.

Picks · Injury reports · Trends · Tools · No ads — no commitment

Let’s do it

Saka and Rashford slam the door

Thomas Tuchel then turned to his bench. Saka came on for Madueke, Rashford for Gordon. Two attacking changes, two players who can attack space, two perfect weapons for punishing a Croatia side forced to open up.

In the 85th minute, the plan paid off. Saka sparked a move on the right, accelerated, fixed the defence, then found Rashford on the far side. The England forward placed his finish beyond Livakovic. 4-2. Game over.

That goal says plenty about this Tuchel version of England. They do not just protect a lead. They can kill a game with the players coming off the bench. Roy Keane pointed it out after the match: the substitutes made an impact. At a World Cup, that is often the line between a good team and a genuine contender.

The old guard approve, and England are already buzzing

Back home, the reaction was strong. Wayne Rooney loved the positive edge to the Three Lions. Ian Wright even said he could not remember an England game where they looked this dangerous going forward. Gary Neville highlighted the excellent second half, while Jamie Carragher put the match among the most exciting of the opening rounds.

England hype is basically a national hobby, but this time there is something real behind it. Four goals against Croatia. An instant response after the break. Senior players delivering. A bench that made a difference. A genuine appetite to play on the front foot.

It proves nothing yet. But it does change the way people look at them.

A perfect start, and a message to back up

England now have a serious edge in the race for top spot in Group L, which also includes Ghana and Panama. For Croatia, defeat hurts, but it does not wreck everything. Zlatko Dalic’s side showed they can still go toe to toe with a major nation, even with some ageing leaders and a second half that got tougher physically.

The Three Lions, though, landed a punch. Not just because they won. Because they won by playing. Because they backed themselves. Because, at last, they looked like a side willing to match their talent.

Kane has started his World Cup. Bellingham has too. Tuchel has made his mark.

And England, for once, did not just survive their status.

They owned it.

Photo by Jose HERNANDEZ / Anadolu via AFP

Discover the rest of the sports news on mathodds!