England v Croatia LIVE: Thomas Tuchel gives Declan Rice injury update after thumping World Cup win | OneFootball

England stormed to a 4-2 victory over Croatia in their opening World Cup 2026 match in Dallas after manager Thomas Tuchel’s half-time speech inspired the Three Lions to a thumping win.

England were a little shaky in the first half and were twice pegged back by Croatia after two goals from Harry Kane. At half-time, assistant coach Anthony Barry ripped into a “complicated and confusing” performance and Tuchel also had stern words for his players at the break.

It brought an immediate reaction and a third goal thanks to Jude Bellingham, who was too powerful down the right as he fired England ahead. Tuchel’s side were also dominant in the opening spell of the second half, with Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic preventing a huge scoreline.

England then flexed their strength and depth, with substitutes Bukayo Saka combining with Marcus Rashford to provide breathing room with a fourth handing them a two-goal cushion to cap an impressive display and victory.

“Credit to the manager, he gave us a speech at half-time and said if we lose, we lose in our way and I think we saw that in the way we came out in the second half,” England captain Kane said. “We went full gas and they couldn't live with it.”

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Will Castle18 June 2026 09:48

England player ratings vs Croatia: Who impressed in World Cup opener?

Jordan Pickford, 5

Will be disappointed to have let Martin Baturina’s fierce strike slip through his grasp. England looked to beat Croatia’s press through him. A half-time tweak helped but Pickford remained a little twitchy.

Reece James, 6

His partnership with Madueke and Bellingham on the right was encouraging. Defensively, the connection with Konsa needs some work. Switched off for Croatia’s second equaliser. Moved into midfield for the final stages.

Ezri Konsa, 6

The centre-back was beaten too easily by the chipped pass into Ivan Perisic for Petar Musa’s goal but grew in confidence as the match went on.

John Stones, 5

Exposed in Croatia’s first goal as he went to ground in the box. Is that down to a lack of match sharpness? England looked vulnerable defensively before half-time.

Nico O'Reilly, 6

A shaky first half, where he went missing as Croatia countered for their first equaliser, gave way to a more assured second as England steadied on the ball. Not much link-up with Gordon.

See below for the full ratings:

Will Castle18 June 2026 09:40

Roy Keane and Gary Neville praise England’s ‘breath-taking’ and ‘fantastic’ performance versus Croatia

Roy Keane, Gary Neville and Ian Wright were full of praise for England following their 4-2 victory over Croatia in their first World Cup 2026 group stage game of this summer’s tournament.

“They’ll be delighted. Scored four goals, the attacking players obviously having an impact, subs coming on and doing well, controlling the game,” said Keane.

“They looked dangerous at set pieces and I think it’s good, though strange, that they conceded a couple of goals because it keeps them on their toes. I think if they’d won three or four-nil the two lads [Neville and Wright] would have been on the table!”

Neville added: “He’s [Thomas Tuchel] given them an absolute rocket at half-time hasn’t he? They’ve come out and for 20 minutes in that second half they were breath-taking.

“What I liked about it then is they had to sit off and play a bit deeper. He [Tuchel] makes the substitutions and they have a big impact and we go and get that fourth [goal]. It was a really good second half and some of the stuff in the first 10 minutes was fantastic.”

Wright said: “People will talk about the defensive side and what happened in the first half but I thought they surprised us a bit with the way they pressed.

“I can’t remember a time when England have gone forward so well, played so well and looked so dangerous. We can always work on the defensive side.”

Keane and Neville praise England’s ‘breath-taking’ win over Croatia

The Three Lions kickstarted their World Cup campaign with a 4-2 victory in Dallas

Will Castle18 June 2026 09:32

Elsewhere in Group L

England weren’t the only Group L team to get off to a winning start.

Caleb Yirenkyi scored a stoppage-time winner to earn Ghana a 1-0 win over Panama in a chilly and lively World Cup 2026 game in which the African ⁠side were forced to play the second half without starting goalkeeper Lawrence Ati Zigi.

After a lightning-quick counter-attack, Brandon Thomas-Asante charged forward before playing a precise pass into the area for Yirenkyi, who tapped home for his first competitive international goal.

Ghana, competing in their fifth World Cup and looking to improve on their run to the quarter-finals in 2010, were forced to play the match without Thomas Partey after the midfielder was denied entry into Canada and lost a visa appeal.

Ghana overcome costly injury after late Caleb Yirenkyi strike downs Panama

The Black Stars punished a spirited Panama side in stoppage time, despite Lawrence Ati Zigi going off at half-time, and face fellow Group L leaders England next in Boston

Will Castle18 June 2026 09:04

How Jude Bellingham won over Thomas Tuchel to become England’s World Cup No 10

As Jude Bellingham walked off the pitch, a familiar tune rang out from the public address system inside the giant Dallas Stadium. England fans sang along to “Hey Jude” as Bellingham walked towards the tunnel, waving to the crowd, embracing his teammates, taking the adulation in his stride.

This was ostensibly Harry Kane’s night, scoring two goals which took him level with Gary Lineker’s tally of 10 at World Cups. But perhaps the evening meant more to Bellingham, a player who has been publicly questioned and privately doubted by his own manager, who has been subjected to scrutiny unlike his teammates. “Don’t bring Jude,” ran a headline in the Daily Mail earlier this season, suggesting England would be better off without him at the World Cup.

“It’s good to put some of the noise aside and just show my country and my teammates how committed I am to helping us win football matches,” said Bellingham, after scoring England’s third goal in a 4-2 win.

How Jude Bellingham won over Thomas Tuchel to become England’s World Cup No 10

Their relationship has at times been uneasy but Jude Bellingham’s second-half performance against Croatia showed why he is essential to Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup plan

Lawrence Ostlere in Dallas18 June 2026 08:56

What do England need to reach the knockouts?

England’s win against Croatia puts them in a good position to reach the knockout phase and top the group.

Unless Panama beat Ghana and Croatia in their first two games, England could seal top spot in the group if they beat Ghana and claim a point against the minnows in their final match.

If Ghana beat Panama later on Wednesday, as is expected, then the Three Lions’ clash against the Ghanaian side may well decide who goes through as group winners.

In terms of the minimum required, three points (with a positive or level goal difference) should be enough to go through as one of the eight best-ranked third-place teams.

(Getty)

Will Castle18 June 2026 08:40

When is England's next World Cup game?

England play Ghana on Tuesday 23 June. It will be played at the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, the home of the New England Patriots and outside of Boston. Kick-off is 4pm local time, which is 9pm BST (UK time).

It will be shown in the UK on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website.

England’s World Cup fixtures

June 17: England 4-2 Croatia | AT&T Stadium, Arlington

June 23: England v Ghana | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough – 4pm ET / 9pm BST

June 27: England v Panama | MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford – 5pm ET / 10pm BST

Will Castle18 June 2026 08:32

Bellingham and the chip on his shoulder

England midfielder Jude Bellingham believes playing with a “chip on my shoulder” will bring the best out of him at the World Cup.

“For me personally, it was nice to put some of the noise aside and just show my country and my team-mates how committed I am to help us try to win football matches,” he told BBC Sport.

“It was a great team performance. Second half, we got things right, first half we got the intensity right, but not quite with the ball and second half we put it all together nicely.

“To contribute, to help my team and help my country is one of the biggest honours and regardless of the noise outside, that honour doesn’t change for me at all.

“It has been a tough season for me but I am feeling fresh and sharp and stronger.

“I have got a little bit of a chip on my shoulder. That helps me a lot to find that focus early in the game and to find that intensity.

“I know that it’s part of being a footballer and I don’t hold a grudge against anyone who says bad things about me because sometimes I do deserve it.

“Today, it was nice to try to show people and remind people what I’m about.”

Jude Bellingham celebrates after scoring England's third goal (Reuters)