England made a successful start to their 2026 World Cup campaign. Facing Croatia on Wednesday night, the Three Lions secured a 4-2 victory in a fast-paced, open match where both teams traded blows. Harry Kane scored twice, joining Gary Lineker as England's all-time leading scorer in a World Cup.
Kane opens the scoring with a penalty
The match turned for the first time after a penalty was awarded for a late clearance by Luka Modric on Noni Madueke. Harry Kane stepped up to face Dominik Livakovic. The Croatian goalkeeper dived the right way, but referee Clement Turpin ordered the penalty retaken, judging that Livakovic had left his line too early. Kane made no mistake with his second chance. The Bayern Munich striker converted his attempt in the 12th minute, putting England ahead.
Croatia responds, England accelerates
After the opening goal, the match became a frantic affair. Croatia responded with clean, flowing team play, true to their possession-based, combination-oriented style. England, for their part, alternated between quick counter-attacks, breakthroughs on the counter-attack, and runs through the middle. Noni Madueke, preferred to Bukayo Saka, frequently posed a threat with his runs and ball control. In midfield, the duo of Elliot Anderson and Declan Rice provided balance for England: Anderson with his tireless work rate, Rice with his directional control.
Kane doubles the lead from a corner
Harry Kane scored his second goal in a textbook move in the 42nd minute. From a corner, the English striker found the net, giving his team the lead. This brace puts Kane on par with the top scorers of the early stages of the tournament. He is keeping pace with other expected attacking stars of the World Cup, such as Haaland, Mbappé, and Messi.
Bellingham puts England back in front
Jude Bellingham then struck immediately after the break. In the 47th minute, the Real Madrid player capitalized on a long ball from Elliot Anderson to score England's third goal. Until then relatively quiet, Bellingham appeared at the perfect moment to restore England's lead in a match that had become wide open.
Livakovic delays the deadline
Croatia continued to press forward and threatened England on several occasions. But Dominik Livakovic also kept his team in the game with a series of saves, particularly around the 56th and 57th minutes. Without the Croatian goalkeeper's stops, the scoreline could have been much wider before the final whistle.
Rashford seals the victory
The Croatians tried to mount a comeback in the final twenty minutes, with chances in the 76th and 83rd minutes. But Marcus Rashford ended any suspense in the 85th minute, scoring England's fourth goal. England then secured the victory.
The Three Lions send a message
With this 4-2 victory against a Croatian side accustomed to big occasions, England made a solid and spectacular start to the tournament. The Three Lions launched their World Cup campaign with attacking confidence, Kane already proving decisive, Bellingham scoring, and a clear ability to punish opponents when it counts. The message was clear: England are definitely among the favorites.
