England rally to beat Croatia 4-2 in World Cup opener with second-half surge

England emerged victorious from a chaotic World Cup opener against Croatia, securing a 4-2 win with a dominant second-half display at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The match, played under the closed roof of the Dallas Cowboys' home venue, saw England recover from a disjointed first half that ended 2-2, with both sides trading goals in rapid succession. Thomas Tuchel's side ultimately prevailed through the individual brilliance of Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, and substitute Marcus Rashford, cementing their status as early tournament contenders.

The first half was a whirlwind of errors and excitement. Harry Kane opened the scoring from a retaken penalty after his initial spot-kick was saved by Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic, who was judged to have left his line early. Croatia responded swiftly, with Martin Baturina curling a stunning shot into the top corner after a clever run by Petar Sucic. England regained the lead through Kane's powerful header from a Declan Rice corner, but Croatia equalised again before half-time when Ivan Perisic set up Petar Musa for a volley. England's defence, featuring John Stones and Ezri Konsa, looked vulnerable throughout the opening period, leaving Tuchel with work to do.

The second half told a different story. England emerged with renewed intensity, and Jude Bellingham was the catalyst, driving forward with purpose to slot home a composed finish after a clever pass from Elliot Anderson. The goal shifted momentum decisively in England's favour. Livakovic made a string of saves to keep Croatia in the match, but England's pressure eventually told. In the 85th minute, substitute Bukayo Saka set up Marcus Rashford, who jinked inside and fired a low shot into the bottom corner to seal the victory. Defensive stand-ins such as Djed Spence also made solid contributions in the closing stages.

Despite the win, concerns remain over England's defensive solidity. Croatia, ranked 11th in the world and the highest-ranked pot two team in the tournament, exposed gaps in Tuchel's backline, particularly with balls in behind. Jordan Pickford was forced into a crucial late stop to deny Marco Pasalic as Croatia pushed for a late equaliser. Nevertheless, England's attacking depth, resilience, and tactical adjustments in the second half showcased a side capable of going deep into the tournament. Tuchel's substitutions proved decisive, and his faith in players like Bellingham and Madueke paid dividends, even as questions linger about defensive organization.