England vs Croatia — World Cup, Group Stage - 1 (17 June 2026)
World Cup Group Stage - 1 
England vs Croatia
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Roy Keane calls Thomas Tuchel praise over the top after England beat Croatia
Roy Keane dismissed praise for Thomas Tuchel’s half-time speech after England’s 4-2 win over Croatia, despite Kane and Rice crediting it.
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Thomas Tuchel England changes grow after Croatia win
Thomas Tuchel said Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford have given him a selection headache after England's 4-2 win over Croatia.
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Tuchel backs Saka bench call after England's win over Croatia
Thomas Tuchel explained why Bukayo Saka was benched for England's 4-2 win over Croatia, backing the selection call on Bellingham and his bench.
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England vs Croatia analysis: Barry was right about the first half
Anthony Barry's halftime verdict on England vs Croatia was backed by the data, with cautious possession and set-piece dependence in a 4-2 win.
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Tuchel says England lost their way before recovering to beat Croatia 4-2
Thomas Tuchel said England overthought the first half against Croatia before a 4-2 win, with Harry Kane's double and Declan Rice's exit central.
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England vs Croatia: Tuchel's Bellingham call pays off
Thomas Tuchel’s call to start Jude Bellingham paid off as England beat Croatia 4-2, with Bellingham and Harry Kane driving the win.
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Declan Rice injury scare eased after England's win over Croatia
Thomas Tuchel says Declan Rice’s withdrawal against Croatia was precautionary, with Rice insisting he is all good and expects to face Ghana.
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Jude Bellingham says the noise around him sharpens his England form
Jude Bellingham said his chip on his shoulder helps him focus after England’s 4-2 win over Croatia, where he scored and backed up Tuchel’s message.
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Thomas Tuchel's calm half-time reset changed England against Croatia
Thomas Tuchel's calm half-time team-talk helped England turn a 2-2 game into a 4-2 win over Croatia in their World Cup opener.
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England vs Croatia: Tuchel's half-time message changed the game
Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham say Thomas Tuchel's calm half-time speech helped England turn a 2-2 opener into a 4-2 World Cup win over Croatia.
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England’s big calls pay off in 4-2 Croatia win
England beat Croatia 4-2 in their World Cup opener, with Harry Kane scoring twice, Jude Bellingham striking after the restart and the bench adding more.
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Thomas Tuchel wanted England to stop protecting the result against Croatia
Thomas Tuchel said England were too focused on protecting the result before their second-half surge against Croatia.
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Harry Kane breaks World Cup penalty record after retake drama against Croatia
Harry Kane is the first player to score five World Cup penalties after a retake against Croatia, moving past Lionel Messi's previous mark of four.
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Tuchel's system-first philosophy: tournament readiness over reputation
Tuchel's England squad drops star players for system fit. Chalobah's selection restructures the defense; Foden, Palmer, Maguire, Shaw pay the price.
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Thomas Tuchel explains why Trent Alexander-Arnold was left out again
Tuchel explains why Chalobah replaced injured Livramento and why Trent Alexander-Arnold still was not recalled for England’s opener against Croatia.
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Tuchel says England will keep their style in Dallas heat
Thomas Tuchel says England will keep their style in Dallas, where temperatures will exceed 30C for the Croatia opener and hydration breaks apply.
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Marc Guehi one of the main England selection calls before Croatia
England legends back Marc Guehi for the World Cup opener against Croatia, while John Stones' recent minutes are questioned.
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Jordan Henderson England World Cup squad debate grows as Bellingham and Rogers back him
Bellingham and Rogers have defended Jordan Henderson's England World Cup place as pundits push younger alternatives and Tuchel's selection calls.
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England vs Croatia preview: Guehi expected to miss out as Tuchel leans physical
England's World Cup opener against Croatia is already shaping into a selection story, with Marc Guehi expected to miss out and Jude Bellingham likely to start.
Lineups & ratings
- 7 Bukayo Saka for N. Madueke
- 11 Marcus Rashford for A. Gordon
- 17 Morgan Rogers for D. Rice
- 25 Djed Spence for J. Bellingham
- 6 Marc Guéhi for J. Stones
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 19
- 21
- 22 Ivan Toney
- 23
- 26
- 8 Mateo Kovačić for L. Modric
- 20 Igor Matanović for P. Musa
- 24 Marco Pašalić for L. Vuskovic
- 13 Nikola Vlašić for M. Baturina
- 9 Andrej Kramarić for M. Pasalic
- 3
- 5
- 7
- 11
- 12 Ivor Pandur
- 18 Kristijan Jakić
- 19
- 21
- 23 Dominik Kotarski
- 25
- 7 Bukayo Saka for N. Madueke
- 11 Marcus Rashford for A. Gordon
- 17 Morgan Rogers for D. Rice
- 25 Djed Spence for J. Bellingham
- 6 Marc Guéhi for J. Stones
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 19
- 21
- 22 Ivan Toney
- 23
- 26
- 8 Mateo Kovačić for L. Modric
- 20 Igor Matanović for P. Musa
- 24 Marco Pašalić for L. Vuskovic
- 13 Nikola Vlašić for M. Baturina
- 9 Andrej Kramarić for M. Pasalic
- 3
- 5
- 7
- 11
- 12 Ivor Pandur
- 18 Kristijan Jakić
- 19
- 21
- 23 Dominik Kotarski
- 25