England and Croatia traded goals in the first half of their match at AT&T on 17/6. The "Three Lions" took the lead two times through Harry Kane's brace, scoring a penalty and a close-range header. However, Croatia quickly equalized each time with goals from Martin Baturina and Petar Musa.

Early in the second half, Jude Bellingham surged down the right flank, penetrating the penalty area before firing a diagonal shot to give England the lead. In the 85th minute, substitute forward Marcus Rashford secured the victory with his signature right-footed finish.

Harry Kane heads in England's second goal against Croatia during their 4-2 victory in the opening match of Group L, World Cup 2026, at AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas, on 17/6. Photo: AP

Kane's brace against Croatia saw him equal legendary Gary Lineker's record of 10 World Cup goals for England. The striker also became only the second English player to score in three World Cups (2018, 2022, 2026), following David Beckham (1998, 2002, 2006).

Beyond his attacking prowess, Kane also impressed with a crucial late-game defensive intervention, blocking a shot from Josko Gvardiol. Tuchel highlighted this as a testament to the England captain's commitment.

"If you observe the captain's commitment, the number 9 in injury time, throwing his body to block a vital shot, you'll understand everything about today's performance," Tuchel stated post-match. "It was a perfect display. A true leader. Kane was fully committed, physically and mentally. He leads by example, and we are extremely pleased."

Meanwhile, Bellingham also earned high praise from Tuchel for exceeding expectations. This came despite earlier doubts about his role, particularly given Morgan Rogers' pivotal contribution to Aston Villa's Europa League victory in the 2025-2026 season.

"You can trust Jude in high-pressure matches like this. He thrives in big games, which brings out his best," the German coach remarked. "He has integrated seamlessly with the team spirit over the past 17 days, embracing a slightly different role than at Real Madrid and embodying the exact spirit we aim to cultivate."

Tuchel acknowledged that omitting Morgan Rogers from the starting lineup was a tough decision but stressed the team's commitment to a collective spirit. "We can only progress if we work together as a unit," he added.

Marcus Rashford secures the victory with a precisely placed shot. Photo: Reuters

The former Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain coach also offered encouragement to Rashford, who had only scored one goal in his 15 most recent appearances for England leading up to World Cup 2026. He noted that Rashford displayed significant positivity during the training camp, adapted well tactically, and fostered healthy competition with his teammates. "I hope he maintains this hunger for more goals. I am very happy for him," Tuchel said.

England's next match is against Ghana at Gillette Stadium, Boston, at 3h (Hanoi time) on 26/4.

Hong Duy (according to Sky Sports)