England 4-2 Croatia: Kane’s Double Seals Opening Win in Group L

England roared into their 2026 World Cup campaign with a pulsating 4-2 victory over Croatia at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, kicking off Group L on a high and sending a clear message to the rest of the competition.

The game erupted into life inside the opening quarter-hour, as Harry Kane struck first for the Three Lions in the 12th minute. A well-worked move down the left flank saw the ball swung into the box, where Kane pounced with clinical precision to give England a deserved lead.

Croatia responded with urgency, matching England’s intensity and equalising just before the break. Martin Baturina found space in the penalty area and fired home from close range in the 36th minute, sparking jubilant scenes among the Croatian faithful and setting up a tense half-time interval.

But England weren’t about to let the momentum slip. Just before the interval, Kane struck again—this time with a composed finish after a slick team move—snatching the lead back in the 42nd minute and sending the English supporters into raptures.

The second half began with a bang. Jude Bellingham, who had been buzzing with energy throughout, cut through the middle and fired past the keeper in the 47th minute to make it 3-1. The goal was a statement of intent—England were in control, and the pressure was mounting on Croatia.

Still, the visitors refused to roll over. Petar Musa, introduced earlier in the half, made an instant impact, latching onto a loose ball in the box and slotting home in the 50th minute to pull one back and reignite hope.

But England held firm. With the clock ticking down, Marcus Rashford delivered the killer blow in the 85th minute. A swift counterattack saw the winger surge past two defenders before calmly finishing past the ‘keeper, sealing the win and sending the travelling fans into rapture.

With three points in the bag, England sit firmly atop Group L, having shown both composure and cutting edge under pressure. For Croatia, the defeat is a setback in what was supposed to be a challenging but manageable start—they’ll need to regroup quickly if they’re to stay in contention.

Now, all eyes turn to the next fixtures, as both sides look to build on this thrilling encounter and shape their path through the group stage.