Harry Kane set the tone for England’s World Cup ambitions with two goals in a breathless 4-2 win over Croatia, as Thomas Tuchel’s team kicked off their campaign with a statement performance in Texas.
Among the leading contenders in North America after reaching consecutive European Championship finals, England were dragged into a thrilling Group L opener at the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium — a frantic contest that ebbed and flowed from the opening minutes.
Kane struck first after converting a retaken penalty, only for Martin Baturina to answer with a superb equaliser. England’s captain then moved level with Gary Lineker’s World Cup scoring record for the national team, powering in a header from a Declan Rice corner.
Croatia refused to go away and struck again just before the interval through Petar Musa, a moment that left assistant coach Anthony Barry furious at England’s “complicated and confusing” play as Tuchel tried to lift the group.
Whatever message landed in the dressing room took immediate effect. Within two minutes of the restart, Jude Bellingham hammered England back in front, firing the Euro 2024 runners-up into the lead once more.
England then poured forward in waves, but Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic delivered an inspired display to keep the contest alive. Even so, substitute Marcus Rashford would eventually add a late fourth to complete the win.
With 70,389 inside the air-conditioned dome, Wednesday’s showdown quickly became one of the standout matches of the group stage, and it also marked Tuchel’s first victory against a nation ranked in FIFA’s top 20.
England began shakily, but a golden opportunity arrived when 40-year-old Luka Modric caught Noni Madueke as the winger attempted to clear. Referee Clement Turpin — the official Tuchel once described as a ‘Grade E’ referee — pointed straight to the spot.
Kane’s first attempt was saved by Livakovic after a stuttered run-up, but the drama was not over. The goalkeeper had moved off his line and Josko Gvardiol encroached before clearing, allowing VAR to intervene. Kane made no mistake with the retake, thumping it in without hesitation for the 12th-minute opener.
England fashioned a couple of openings in the aftermath, yet the mood in the stadium turned when boos greeted the hydration break under the Dallas roof.
For all the threat going forward, England looked vulnerable when asked to defend, with Barry later lamenting that the side had slipped “back into some fearful patterns” before Croatia drew level in the 36th minute.
Croatia regained possession just inside England’s half and worked the ball into a dangerous area. Petar Sucic shifted away from John Stones and laid it back for Baturina, who swept home with quality to make it 1-1.
The equaliser lit the fuse on a chaotic end to the half.
England surged back in front six minutes later, and Croatia will rue how Kane was left unmarked. The striker attacked Rice’s corner and drove a powerful header beyond Livakovic to restore the lead — and to pull level with Lineker’s England World Cup record.
But Croatia struck yet again, equalising in added time. A superb clipped delivery into the area was cleverly guided on by just onside Ivan Perisic, leaving FC Dallas forward Musa to slam home from close range.
The late blow could have rattled England, but they responded with authority after the break, a stern half-time message helping to produce a perfect start to the second period.
Bellingham burst down the right after collecting a hopeful ball into the channel, carried it with intent and then drilled a low shot off the inside of the far post just 85 seconds into the half.
With the lead back in their hands, England played with swagger and purpose. Bellingham went close again, while Nico O’Reilly somehow headed wide from a corner as Croatia staggered under the pressure.
Livakovic then denied Rice, and England might have run away with it if not for the goalkeeper’s form.
The Croatian No 1 produced a stunning triple save in the 55th minute, keeping out attempts from O’Reilly, Anthony Gordon and Ezri Konsa, before twice frustrating Kane as England tried to put the game out of reach.
Modric made way for Mateo Kovacic as Croatia sought to shift the balance. Jordan Pickford was forced into action by Marco Pasalic and others as Zlatko Dalic’s men pushed for another equaliser.
Ranked 11th in the world, Croatia kept knocking at the door, yet England remained dangerous in transition and from set pieces.
Djed Spence went close before Rashford, another introduction, finally made it safe in the 85th minute. The forward coolly cut away from his marker and guided a finish into the bottom corner to seal the 4-2 win.
At the death, Kane’s block from Gvardiol captured the collective commitment of a side that still has issues to iron out, but also showed the qualities that make them genuine contenders.
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