England and Croatia lock horns to begin their 2026 World Cup campaign at the AT&T Stadium in Dallas on June 18, with Group L control already on the line.
For England, this is the first step in another attempt to end the long wait for a major men’s trophy. Thomas Tuchel’s side are desperate to get off to a flying start as they enter the tournament off the back of a narrow friendly victory over New Zealand, which did little to lift their confidence levels.
For Croatia, it is another chance to prove they are not here for mere participation. Zlatko Dalic has done an excellent job, helping Croatia punch above their weight year after year. Vatreni beat England in the 2018 World Cup semi-finals, where they ended up as the runners-up, whilst also finishing third in the previous showpiece event.
England vs. Croatia—Team News
England have one concern heading into their World Cup opener against Croatia, with question marks hanging over the head of Bukayo Saka. The creative winger missed the March international break with an Achilles problem and missed seven games for Arsenal, but returned to help his club side lift the Premier League title for the first time in 22 years.
Thomas Tuchel’s biggest quandary appears to be about selection rather than fitness. The German tactician has several interesting decisions to make when picking his first XI in midweek.
As for Croatia, Dalic has a fully fit squad at his disposal. Evergreen stars Luka Modric and Ivan Perisic will also be available to contribute and help the Chequered Ones to a flying start. How Dalic finds balance in his side will be intriguing to watch.
England vs. Croatia—Predicted Lineups
Predicted England lineup (4-2-3-1): Jordan Pickford; Reece James, John Stones, Ezri Konsa, Nico O’Reilly; Elliott Anderson, Declan Rice; Noni Madueke, Jude Bellingham, Anthony Gordon; Harry Kane
Predicted Croatia lineup (3-4-2-1): Dominik Livakovic; Josip Sutalo, Luka Vuskovic, Josko Gvardiol; Josip Stanisic, Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic, Ivan Perisic; Petar Sucic, Martin Baturina; Petar Musa
England vs. Croatia—Key Players
England—Harry Kane
Tuchel usually employs a lower-scoring, disciplined style of play, drawing opponents into battles where goals are tough to find. Harry Kane will once again be crucial for the Three Lions, both in terms of creativity and goals. The Bayern Munich star’s ability to drop deep, link play, and bring the wide forwards into the game makes him a special player, and if Croatia are to do well in this game, they must nullify Kane’s threat.
Croatia—Luka Modric
There is still life in the old dog; Luka Modric, at 40, will once again be central to how Croatia performs at the world’s biggest stage. The legendary midfielder may not have the legs and energy to cover every blade of his grass, but his game intelligence and technical ability remain unmatched. The battle between Modric and Rice in the middle of the park will be one to watch in Dallas.
Prediction: England 2-1 Croatia
