England 4-2 Croatia: World Cup 2026 – as it happened

Thank you for your company this evening as we enjoyed what could be one of the games of the tournament, with England seeing off Croatia in a rematch of the 2018 semifinal.

We’re back tomorrow afternoon with live coverage of Czechia vs South Africa, so we hope you can join us then.

Until then, it’s goodbye for now.

Zlatko Dalic said Croatia’s display after half-time left a lot to be desired.

Speaking to HRT in Croatia, he said: “We played a very bad second half. In the first half, we conceded two goals from two set pieces, the first after a penalty. We didn’t do some things well.

“We conceded the third goal after a long ball and saw how difficult it was to come back into the game. We reacted poorly to the deep ball and rotated poorly.”

Defender Josko Gvardiol said there were some small positives, having twice come from behind in the opening 45 minutes.

“It definitely was not good,” he said. “We came back twice, and knew their quality, but the goal at the start of the second half was not good. It was a drop in concentration.

“Nothing is over. Two more games are left. It is not easy to come back twice, and we managed to do it, but it wasn’t enough.”

England midfielder Jude Bellingham says Thomas Tuchel did not shout at England’s players to inspire their incredible second-half onslaught.

Speaking to ITV in the UK, the Real Madrid man said: “The second half especially, we showed what we’re about and the team we want to be. I think the first half, we were still a bit nervous and cagey, but in the second half, you saw the best of us.”

“It wasn’t one of those [half-time talks] where it was a big drama, or standing up and shouting; it was what the team needed. We have a mature group with great leaders in there; everyone knew the level we had to get to.

“My responsibility to the team and my country is to give everything I have when I wear that badge. I want to give everything I can. It’s been a long season for me; I’ve missed more camps than I’d like.”

England will seek to build on their opening-day win in Group L when they travel to Boston to face Ghana in their second match on Tuesday, June 23 (20:00 GMT).

Croatia will take on Panama in their second game in Toronto three hours later.

We’re back on Thursday as the second round of group stage fixtures gets under way.

Czechia and South Africa will seek to get their Group A campaigns on track in what could be a pivotal game in the quest for qualification to the round of 32.

Czechia allowed a lead against South Korea to slip to a 2-1 defeat on the opening day, while South Africa ended with nine men as they went down 2-0 against cohosts Mexico.

Kickoff in Atlanta is 16:00 GMT, and you can click here to read our preview.

Your @MichelobUltra Superior Player of the Match is Harry Kane. 🌟#FIFAWorldCup #SuperiorPOTM pic.twitter.com/wCnj5u8gbM

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 17, 2026

Thomas Tuchel said it was a case of better late than never for England on their World Cup 2026 debut.

The England head coach told ITV in the UK: “First half was a bit complicated for us, a bit nervy. We chose to go safe; we struggled to find a rhythm.

“Even off the ball, we were not brave enough or committed enough.

“I love the reaction of the players in the second half. It took us a while to get going, but we got going, which is positive.”

On his half-time speech to the players: “I just said, ‘Let’s do it our way; we were too focused on the result. We were a back seven, and we didn’t defend the [second] goal. Let’s do what we’ve been doing for 17 days, and if we lose, we lose.’ I tried to encourage them to go for it.”

England 4-2 Croatia

England start their quest for World Cup glory with a 4-2 victory over Croatia.

The first half was slightly shaky, but the Three Lions dominated after the break and secured the three points. pic.twitter.com/9NBb19Oxma

— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) June 17, 2026

Click here to read our full report following England’s win.

4-2 - Tonight was England's first 4-2 win in a FIFA World Cup match since the 1966 final against West Germany.

Home. pic.twitter.com/RApluhekyl

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 17, 2026

Harry Kane says a half-time speech from Thomas Tuchel inspired their “full-gas” start to the second half.

Speaking to ITV in the UK, Kane said: “It was a game of two halves. The manager gave us a speech at half-time and said, ‘If you lose, you lose, but lose our way.’

“We went full gas, and they couldn’t live with it. Our biggest strength is the intensity we went at.

“We had a spell in the first 20 minutes [of the second half]; we could have scored three or four.

“It’s a great result against a tough side.”

4 - Ivan Perisic has assisted a goal on four World Cup editions, with only Lionel Messi also providing an assist on as many World Cup tournaments on record (since 1966).

Evergreen. pic.twitter.com/nyP48oW3E9

— OptaJohan (@OptaJohan) June 17, 2026

2002 - This is England’s first FIFA World Cup win against a side ranked inside of FIFA’s top 15 in the rankings (Croatia 11th) since 2002 v Argentina (3rd), ending a nine-game winless run (D2 L7) and six-game losing run against such sides at the finals.

Statement. pic.twitter.com/jhWCOnioPe

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 17, 2026

What a game of football.

England come out on top after a ding-dong battle with another European powerhouse and exact a little revenge for their semifinal defeat to Croatia in 2018.

Harry Kane scored twice, converting a penalty at the second attempt and then heading home a corner, either side of a thunderous reply from Martin Baturina.

Petar Musa swept home the leveller on the stroke of half-time, and we can only imagine Thomas Tuchel had plenty to say at the break as England flew out of the blocks after the restart with Jude Bellingham racing away to apply an angled finish.

Livakovic produced a string of fine saves to keep England at bay, but Rashford stroked home the clincher late on and now they sit top of Group L, which also contains Panama and Ghana, who meet in Toronto in an hour from now.

Second Half ends, England 4, Croatia 2.

England are seeing the job through pretty well, as Croatia try to get something going down the flanks and win a corner, which sees Kane produce a fine low block from Gvardiol at the back post.

Pickford is alert to claim a bouncing ball, and only two minutes separate England from an opening match win.

90+4 mins: England 4-2 Croatia

We’ll have six additional minutes for England to negotiate, but it feels as though most of the fight is out of Croatia after that fourth.

90+1 mins: England 4-2 Croatia

England look like they want to keep going.

The series of subs in the final 25 minutes or so has changed the course of the game.

Tuchel clearly didn’t enjoy the first half, but he has made his mark on the second.

89 mins: England 4-2 Croatia

Substitution, England. Marc Guéhi replaces John Stones.

Brilliant from England again, and they have daylight.

They break down the right, and Saka drives inside before sliding to Rashford in space on the left of the box. He keeps his cool, works some space, and passes to Livakovic’s left and inside the post to surely give England an unassailable lead.

85 mins: England 4-2 Croatia