Emerging
Jun 17, 20261
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England defeats Croatia 4-2 in World Cup opener; Kane ties goalscoring record
England defeated Croatia 4-2 in a World Cup group match, with Harry Kane scoring twice to equal Gary Lineker's English record of 10 World Cup goals. Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford added goals as England dominated the second half following tactical adjustments at halftime.
Quick Facts
Who
Harry Kane
What
England defeated Croatia in World Cup group match
When
Wednesday (June 17, 2026)
Where
Arlington, Texas
- England defeated Croatia in World Cup group match
- Harry Kane scored twice including penalty kick
- Kane tied Gary Lineker's English World Cup goal record
- Jude Bellingham scored two minutes into second half
- Marcus Rashford scored in 85th minute
England secured a commanding 4-2 victory over Croatia in their opening World Cup group match on Wednesday in Arlington, Texas, with Harry Kane playing a central role in the performance. Kane scored twice, including a penalty kick converted on his second attempt after a video review, to equal Gary Lineker's English record of 10 World Cup goals. The Bayern Munich striker's second goal came via a powerful header from a corner kick, bringing his international tally to 81 goals.
Jude Bellingham extended England's advantage early in the second half just two minutes after the restart, receiving a long pass from Elliot Anderson and firing past Croatian goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic. Marcus Rashford added a fourth goal in the 85th minute to seal the comfortable victory. The match marked a rematch of the 2018 semifinal, which Croatia had won, but England's superior performance in the second half proved decisive.
Croatia's goals came from Martin Baturina in the 36th minute and Petar Musa on the final play of the first half, the latter becoming the first active Dallas MLS player to score in a World Cup. England's coach Thomas Tuchel attributed the team's strong second-half showing to an adjustment in approach at halftime, encouraging his players to attack more freely. Luka Modric, the 40-year-old Croatian midfielder appearing in his fifth World Cup, committed the penalty that led to Kane's first goal.
England's impressive second-half display highlighted their attacking potential, with Kane noting the team created multiple scoring chances in a rapid succession. Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic acknowledged England's quality and identified defensive vulnerabilities as an area for improvement. The match was played at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, which provided air-conditioned relief from humid Texas heat for the fans. England will next face Ghana on Tuesday in Group L, while Croatia plays Panama the same day.
Why This Matters
England's dominant second-half performance and Kane's record-tying milestone establish them as genuine World Cup contenders. The tactical flexibility Tuchel demonstrated—switching to a more aggressive approach after halftime—reveals a team capable of adapting under pressure, crucial for deep tournament runs. Kane's consistency (81 international goals) reinforces his status as England's all-time great striker, while emerging talents like Bellingham and Rashford demonstrate the squad's attacking depth, directly affecting their odds for advancing through Group L and beyond.