England 4-2 Croatia: Kane 12 pen, 42, Bellingham 47, Rashford 85; Baturina 36, Musa 45+5
It was something of a questionable start for England in this game but as the second half reached a close there was much cause for optimism. Awarded a fortunate penalty after Luka Modric tried to clear the ball and had Noni Madueke jump in front of him to get kicked, England could only curse when Harry Kane kicked the ball into goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic’s arms.
But fortune shone on them again after the slightly contentious ruling that Livakovic had strayed from his line. Kane took his second chance to open the scoring in a game that ultimately turned frenetic and produced six goals.
For long stretches England looked capable of overwhelming their opponents through sheer attacking force. But they also looked vulnerable whenever Croatia found space to counter. In the end, however, England’s attacking quality paid dividends and they emerged with three points from one of their tougher fixtures in Group L.
Kane scored twice in a chaotic first half before Bellingham’s driving run and finish shortly after the restart swung momentum in England’s favour. Marcus Rashford then settled the contest late on.
Converted. pic.twitter.com/qYv23kqU0O
— England (@England) June 17, 2026
England had their breakthrough after Kane’s 12-minute penalty but there was always the sense that Croatia would be back in the game. They moved the ball with fluency and repeatedly exposed gaps in England’s defensive third, and surely enough the equaliser arrived after the half hour when Martin Baturina unleashed a fierce strike that beat Jordan Pickford into the bottom corner to his right.
There was a lot more to come. Thomas Tuchel said he wanted England to play like a Premier League side, and here Declan Rice’s corner found Kane, who ran onto the scene with perfect timing to be granted a free header past Livakovic. Now no England player in history has scored more goals at the World Cup than Kane and he needs just one more to surpass Gary Lineker.
Croatia levelled again in first-half stoppage time with a beautiful passing move. Josip Sutalo picked out Ivan Perisic with a delicious ball as the winger ran behind the England back line. Perisic then turned and headed the ball backwards and sideways to Petar Musa, who had been freed by the attention given to his teammate. Musa volleyed past Pickford and it was square at the break.
But England would impose themselves after the restart, Bellingham restoring the lead after driving into the Croatia box unimpedible like a juggernaut, before drilling a low finish into the far corner. And then Croatia could not breathe as they endured wave after wave of pressure, which finally told when Rashford fired past Livakovic to seal victory.
