An electric second half ensured England made a winning start to their World Cup campaign, with Thomas Tuchel’s side showing their attacking excellence in a 4-2 victory over Croatia.
In a reversal of the Gareth Southgate story at Euro 2024, when England’s defence was solid and their attack dependent on individual moments of inspiration, in Texas they were nervous and jittery at the back but relentless on the front foot.
The highlights reel will give England fans plenty to revel in before their next Group L game with Ghana on Tuesday night. Some clips of their defending will give Tuchel sleepless nights.
Captain Harry Kane’s importance to England’s prospects was underlined by his first-half double, which featured a retaken penalty and an expert header from Declan Rice’s fine corner.
Harry Kane celebrates scoring England’s second goal
But Croatia twice pegged England back, scoring from their first two shots on target with the centre-back selection of John Stones and Ezri Konsa in the spotlight. Martin Baturina’s hit was a bolt from the blue after a Stones slip and England dropped too deep for Peta Musa’s well-worked second, with Konsa unable to prevent Ivan Perisic nodding a chipped pass to the goal-scorer.
After the interval, though, England were a different beast; intense as they battered the Croatian goal. Jude Bellingham drove down the right, into the box and then fired into the far corner just two minutes into the second half to restore England’s lead. They would finish the match with 22 shots to their name.
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England fans went through all the emotions as they beat Croatia 4-2 in their opening match of the World Cup
Goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic’s heroics somehow kept Croatia in it but subs Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford combined late on for the latter to score the fourth and reflect England’s dominance.
This wasn’t the perfect start but it felt like a significant win, with a second-half performance which will fuel belief that England – with a different approach in this new era – can match or even better what they have achieved before under Southgate.
England’s Marcus Rashford celebrates scoring his side’s fourth goal against Croatia
Tuchel pleased with England reaction
England boss Thomas Tuchel:
“I loved the second half. All of it. I loved the reaction to a very complicated first half.
“We played against a top opponent. We showed a bit of nerves. Maybe we wanted to over do it. But we clearly over-thought our decisions. It took us too long to take decisions. We couldn’t find the rhythm in our game.
“We spent way too much time in a low block which is not our identity. Both leads didn’t make us more free. It had the impression we had to protect something and we got punished for it.
“But I love the reaction. We encouraged them to go for it, to play with more courage, be brave and be ourselves. We created a lot of chances. We had a lot of ball wins. We scored goals.
“Overall I think we deserved to win. There are still things to improve, this is quite normal after the first match. You need to grow into a tournament. We got a tough draw to start against Croatia.”
Neville: Bellingham and Kane key for England
Sky Sports’ Gary Neville on ITV:
“The Jude Bellingham argument is over with. We can’t be disrespectful to Morgan Rogers because he’s a brilliant player. But Jude Bellingham is the top player. He and Kane in attack are the difference.
“The most important thing is can we keep possession? Take the sting out of the game on the ball. We haven’t shown that yet, but it might come in the following games.
“We didn’t let Modric dictate the game. In the past, England players would’ve stood off players like that. These lads didn’t today. Anderson in particular targeted him with the press.”
The key moments
12: GOAL! Harry Kane opens the scoring from the spot after Luka Modric kicks Noni Madueke. Kane’s first penalty was saved but Dominik Livakovic was off his line and Josko Gvardiol encroached to force a re-take.
36: GOAL! Martin Baturina blasts in from the edge of the box against the run of play.
42: GOAL! An unmarked Kane heads in Declan Rice’s corner to restore England’s lead.
45+5: GOAL! Petar Musa converts from close range after Ivan Perisic’s headed pass.
47: GOAL! England come out flying at the start of the second half, with Jude Bellingham hitting their third into the far corner.
56: SAVES! Livakovic’s heroics deny Nico O’Reilly, Anthony Gordon and Ezri Konsa from a corner as England pile on the pressure in search of a fourth.
58: SUB! Modric is hooked off on his 199th appearance for Croatia after struggling in midfield and giving away a penalty.
85: GOAL! Subs Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford combine brilliantly for Rashford to make it 4-2.
90+5: BLOCK! Kane puts his body on the line to prevent Josko Gvardiol from scoring.
What the result means…
Analysis: Chaotic and great fun
Sky Sports News’ Rob Dorsett:
Chaotic, captivating, calamitous – at times. World Cup openers are supposed to be cautious, calm and unadventurous. This was the exact opposite.
Tuchel’s fury at England’s defensive frailties and gung-ho approach was clear, but with his words still ringing in their ears at the start of the second half, England’s attacking players showed they have the firepower to hurt anyone in this tournament.
It was often like a basketball game, and Tuchel will hate that England were so open. But he can only applaud their attacking prowess, with Madueke and Bellingham to the fore.
Of course, it was captain Kane who provided some order to proceedings with two goals that took him level with Gary Lineker on 10 World Cup goals.
It was great fun – but Tuchel has much to work to do for sure.
