England Triumphs Over Croatia in World Cup Opener with Stellar Second Half
England's Strong Comeback Secures Victory
Dallas [US], June 18: England's head coach Thomas Tuchel commended his team's impressive second-half performance following a challenging first half, as the Three Lions clinched a 4-2 victory against Croatia in their opening match of the FIFA World Cup 2026 at Dallas Stadium in Texas on Wednesday.
Tuchel expressed his admiration for the team's response to a "very complicated first half" against Croatia, according to reports from a news source.
Captain Harry Kane netted two goals, but Croatia managed to equalize twice through Martin Baturina and Petar Musa before halftime. After the break, England took charge, with Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford scoring to secure the win.
Post-match, Tuchel highlighted England's second-half display, stating he was pleased with how the team reacted after a tough first half against a formidable opponent. England currently holds the fourth position in the FIFA World Rankings, while Croatia is ranked 14th.
"I loved the second half, all of it. I appreciated the reaction to a very complicated first half against top opponents," he remarked.
Tuchel noted that England appeared anxious at times, complicating their play by taking too long to make decisions and often opting for the wrong choices.
"We showed some nerves, perhaps trying too hard, but we clearly overthought our decisions. We took too long to act. When we could play short, we played long, and vice versa," he explained.
He acknowledged that England dropped too deep and became overly cautious after gaining the lead, which allowed Croatia to come back into the match. However, he was thrilled with the team's strong response and improved performance in the second half.
"We spent too much time in a low block, which is not our identity. The leads didn’t make us feel freer. I felt we were trying to protect something, and we were punished for it, which is psychologically challenging. But I loved the reaction after halftime," Tuchel added.
Tuchel emphasized that there is still room for growth, which is typical early in a tournament.
"There are still aspects to improve. This is quite normal. After the first match, you need to adapt to the tournament. We have a tough draw, so we will focus on the positives and enjoy the moment, with enough time to adjust," he stated.
In the match, Kane scored twice, while Bellingham delivered a remarkable strike in the second half, and substitute Rashford added a late goal to finalize the victory.
England was awarded an early penalty when Noni Madueke was fouled by Luka Modric in the box during the 11th minute.
Although Dominik Livakovic saved Kane's initial attempt, VAR intervened, ruling that the goalkeeper had stepped off his line too early, necessitating a retake. Kane successfully converted the second attempt, putting England ahead.
Croatia responded effectively, leveling the score in the 36th minute with a goal from Martin Baturina, who capitalized on Luka Sucic's incisive run and cut-back.
Kane's commanding performance included a brace against Croatia, with one goal from the penalty spot in the 12th minute and another in the 42nd minute, marking a strong start for England in the tournament.
Kane became only the second England player to score in three different FIFA World Cup tournaments (2018, 2022, 2026), joining the legendary David Beckham (1998, 2002, 2006).
Additionally, Kane reached a significant milestone, scoring 10 goals in FIFA World Cup history, tying with Gary Lineker for the most by an England player.
Furthermore, Kane set a new record by scoring the most non-penalty shootout penalties in FIFA World Cup history, bringing his total to five.
During the match, Ivan Perisic also made history by becoming the second player to register assists in four different FIFA World Cup tournaments, joining Argentine icon Lionel Messi in this achievement.