England v Croatia LIVE: Thomas Tuchel faces Bukayo Saka decision as World Cup campaign begins | OneFootball

The time has finally arrived for England to get their World Cup 2026 campaign underway, with Thomas Tuchel’s side ready to meet Croatia in a Group L opener that is a repeat of their semi-final eight years ago.

Tuchel will have 25 of his 26 players to pick from in Dallas – late injury replacement Trevoh Chalobah is not yet available – with captain Harry Kane set to lead the line in a tournament where the big names have wasted no time in making their impact. But the England boss faces a decision over Bukayo Saka, who needs his fitness managed as he battles an injury. Will the Arsenal star be able to start?

While Croatia are much-changed, and arguably a lesser force, compared to the team that broke England hearts in Russia, Luka Modric remains at the heart of their midfield in a group also featuring Ghana and Panama.

How will England line up against Croatia in their 2026 World Cup opener?

Bukayo Saka will start on the right side, although Tuchel has hinted that fitness issues may limit his minutes at the World Cup – Noni Madueke could turn out to be crucial. Madueke was excellent in England’s best game under Tuchel, the 5-0 thrashing of Serbia in qualifying, and it is possible that Madueke could even usurp Saka as England’s starting winger later in the tournament if he impresses from the bench and Saka struggles for sharpness.

Tuchel’s biggest decision is on the left wing, and a choice between Anthony Gordon and Marcus Rashford. It is a strange dynamic, given Gordon signed for Barcelona days before travelling out to the US for this World Cup. He is effectively replacing Rashford, who spent the season on loan at the Nou Camp but will not have his temporary stay made permanent. Rashford is expected to find another place to play rather than return to Manchester United, where relations broke down last season.

Kane, of course, will lead the line. The England captain scored 61 goals for Bayern Munich this season, and provided seven assists, in an astonishing campaign. He is pursuing the Golden Boot and the Ballon d’Or in North America, as well as the World Cup.

How will England line up against Croatia in their 2026 World Cup opener?

Jordan Pickford will, of course, start in goal and we have a fairly clear idea of the back four. Reece James and Nico O’Reilly will be the full-backs, and the centre-back pairing will be two of Marc Guehi, John Stones and Ezri Konsa.

Both James and O’Reilly have played in midfield for Chelsea and Manchester City respectively this season and their ability and creativity on the ball – particularly James’s passing range – will add another element to the tenacity of Elliot Anderson and the drive of Declan Rice, England’s preferred pair in central midfield.

Jude Bellingham is most likely to start in the No 10 position. Morgan Rogers played a key role throughout qualifying and Tuchel took a hard line on Bellingham’s inclusion in the squad last autumn. But the Real Madrid midfielder is a leader for England, someone who can take the burden off Harry Kane both in terms of his attacking output, with his runs beyond the striker and by assuming responsibility on the field.

Lawrence Ostlere in Dallas17 June 2026 17:30

Why England must top their group

If the first few days of the 2026 World Cup have taught us anything, it is that predicting how the tournament will pan out is a fool’s errand. Cape Verde were not meant to shut out Spain, many people’s favourites. Australia were not meant to beat a talented Turkey. Morocco were not meant to match the might of Brazil.

We can still try to map out the draw, of course. Theoretically, there should be a material benefit in topping each group. Group winners will be rewarded in one of two ways by Fifa’s new 48-team format: either they will get to play one of the eight third-placed finishers in the round of the 32; or they will meet a second-placed finisher but then avoid facing any other group winners until the quarter-finals at the earliest.

For England – on paper, at least – winning Group L would seem advantageous in progressing deep into the tournament. They would be paired with one of the third-placed finishers in the round of 32, teams who are likely to have picked up only three or four points during the group stage.

The real reason why England must top their World Cup group

Winning the group comes with a potentially easier road to the final, but ahead of England’s crunch game against Croatia in Dallas on Wednesday, reasons of geography are the strongest motivation to top Group L

Lawrence Ostlere in Dallas17 June 2026 17:12

Saka's fitness 'gamble'

Bukayo Saka will continue to “take the gamble” on his fitness to be involved in England’s World Cup campaign.

The Arsenal winger has been managing an Achilles injury that dogged the end of his domestic campaign, playing through the pain barrier, and Thomas Tuchel said during the pre-tournament camp in Florida that he does not think he can yet play 90 minutes.

“As players, it’s the biggest gamble, especially if you’re not feeling your sharpest,” he said. “You have the choice whether you don’t play or you put yourself out there knowing people are going to judge you the same.

“At the end of the day, people don’t really care how you’re feeling, they expect you to deliver, they expect you to perform. I’m happy to take the gamble. It paid off, I’d say. I’m going to continue doing that.

“But I am feeling a lot better than I did in March, and I’m ready to go. I don’t want to say anything that goes against the manager, but between Mikel and Arsenal’s medical team and England’s medical team, since March, they have managed me amazingly and helped me get back on the pitch and do what I can for the team.

“I am feeling better than I have felt for the last few months. I am ready to go.”

Will Saka start this evening?

Bukayo Saka is in a fitness race (PA Wire)

Luke Baker17 June 2026 16:46

How the World Cup’s great survivor Luka Modric and Croatia could torment England again

Luka Modric tends to swap shirts with an opponent after every international. It means he must need a very large wardrobe or plenty of frames. He will soon have a double century of shirts.

There was, Modric said in his autobiography, only one Croatia game where he was determined not to trade the checkered kit with a member of the opposition team: against France, in 2018.

Croatia lost, but even getting there was an extraordinary achievement. Their population remains below four million, less than 0.05 per cent of the world’s. But Modric took them to the 2018 World Cup final. He won the World Cup’s Golden Ball and then the Ballon d’Or, to follow his third consecutive Champions League with Real Madrid.

Richard Jolly writes about Croatia’s ageless wonder:

Luke Baker17 June 2026 16:29