Tech
Jun 18, 20261
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England Edge Croatia 4-3 in Euro 2024 Goal Fest

England defeated Croatia 4-3 in an action-packed Euro 2024 match featuring six goals, a retaken penalty by Harry Kane, and a stunning individual effort from Jude Bellingham. Substitute Marcus Rashford scored the winner late in the second half.





Quick Facts
Who
England
What
played a Euro 2024 group stage match
When
2026-06-18
Where
Euro 2024
- played a Euro 2024 group stage match
- England won 4-3
- Kane scored a penalty after a retake
- Bellingham scored a solo goal
- Rashford scored the winner as a substitute
In a thrilling Euro 2024 group stage match, England secured a dramatic 4-3 victory over Croatia in a six-goal spectacular that kept fans on the edge of their seats. The encounter, which revived memories of the 2018 World Cup semi-final, saw both teams trade goals in a relentless attacking display.
England captain Harry Kane opened the scoring from the penalty spot after his initial effort was saved by Dominik Livakovic, but a retake was ordered due to a rule infringement, and Kane made no mistake on the second attempt. Croatia quickly replied when Martin Baturina fired a precise equalizer, but Kane restored England's lead shortly after with a header from Declan Rice's corner. Petar Musa then leveled again just before halftime.
After the break, Jude Bellingham emerged as the hero, embarking on an extraordinary solo run and unleashing a powerful strike off the crossbar to put England ahead once more. Croatia pushed hard for another equalizer, with Josko Gvardiol coming close from a corner, only for an England defender to clear off the line. Jordan Pickford made crucial saves to keep his side in front.
The decisive moment came in the 85th minute when substitute Marcus Rashford finished from close range after a precise cross from Bukayo Saka, sealing the win for England. The victory marked England's first competitive meeting with Croatia since the 2018 World Cup semi-final in Moscow, where Croatia triumphed 2-1 after extra time to reach the final.
Why This Matters
This result puts England in a strong position to advance from a competitive group, boosting their confidence ahead of knockout stages. The win also highlights the depth of England's squad, with substitutes like Rashford proving decisive, and sets up a potential rematch narrative against Croatia in future tournaments.
Timeline & Sources
Jun 18, 2026
WireMatch played