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Who impressed for England in their World Cup 2026 opener against Croatia?

England kicked off their World Cup 2026 campaign with a victory over Croatia.

The match turned out to be far more dramatic than anticipated, as England took the lead three times but allowed Croatia back into the contest through some sloppy first-half defending.

So, which players delivered strong performances, and who struggled to make an impact?

Jordan Pickford: His distribution in the early stages was vital in helping the Three Lions bypass Croatia’s pressing game. He managed to get a touch on Croatia’s goal but could hardly be blamed for Martin Baturina’s thunderous 120km strike or for his defenders’ lapse that left Petar Musa unmarked for the second equaliser. Two attacks and two goals conceded in the first half were below Pickford’s usual high standards, though there was little he could have done. His crucial save in the second half to deny Marko Pasalic was vintage Pickford.

Reece James: Nearly conceded a penalty around the 15-minute mark while trying to stop Musa from shooting. He gradually improved in possession but was caught out for the second Croatian goal, drawn in by Mario Pasalic’s decoy run. However, James looked more comfortable when moved into midfield in the second half. Overall, a decent if not dazzling display.

John Stones: Although he hasn’t featured much this season, the experienced centre-back was composed on the ball as expected. Yet, that composure didn’t seem to influence the rest of the defence during a shaky first half. While there might be some rust, Stones was key in building play from the back and made few mistakes, even if he didn’t stand out as one of the best on the pitch.

Ezri Konsa: Shared responsibility for Croatia’s second equaliser when Mario Pasalic drifted beyond him and nodded the ball back to an unmarked Musa. It was a valuable learning moment for the Aston Villa defender in his first major international tournament. With England taking greater control after the break, he had less defensive work to do and looked comfortable in possession. Nevertheless, he may lose his place to Marc Guehi in the next match.

Nico O'Reilly: Had a quiet first half, often drifting inside to find the ball. He missed a golden opportunity with a free header shortly after Jude Bellingham’s opener – a chance he would normally finish for Manchester City. His second effort forced a fine save from Dominik Livakovic. For a youngster making his debut at a major tournament against an accomplished Croatian side, he showed maturity as the game progressed, displaying positional discipline and composure.

Elliot Anderson: Though quiet before half-time, Anderson worked tirelessly off the ball, particularly in the second half when England began to control proceedings. Without Declan Rice beside him for part of the game, he remained calm and assured in midfield alongside Bellingham and later James. A steady and encouraging tournament debut.

Declan Rice: Might have closed down Baturina more effectively for Croatia’s leveller but made amends by providing the assist for Harry Kane’s second goal. As ever, Rice delivered his trademark energy, ball-winning dominance, and composure in possession. He also tested Livakovic with a shot early in the second half, showcasing his attacking instincts. His substitution appeared precautionary to manage workload rather than due to injury.

Noni Madueke: A lively presence in the first half, frequently isolated on the right but delivering a few dangerous crosses. The Arsenal winger seemed slightly short of confidence, opting to recycle possession rather than challenge Josko Gvardiol one-on-one. Still, this was a capable display as Bukayo Saka’s stand-in and one of Madueke’s stronger performances in 2026 after a challenging club season.

Jude Bellingham: England’s standout performer alongside Kane. Produced a crucial recovery tackle on Musa early on to spare James, then restored England’s lead with a striker’s finish early in the second half. Amid debates about whether he should start ahead of Rogers, Bellingham emphatically justified his selection. He nearly doubled the lead in the first half, narrowly missing a Madueke cross. A commanding midfield display.

Anthony Gordon: Worked hard defensively and showed intelligent movement, alternating between holding width and drifting inside to retain possession. However, he rarely offered runs beyond Kane and had just one shot blocked by a Croatian defender. He’ll hope for another opportunity to impress against Ghana.

Harry Kane: Fortunate to retake his penalty after an initial miss but made no mistake the second time, confidently dispatching it into the same corner. Later powered home a header to make it 2-0. The captain repeatedly threatened the Croatian goal and was unlucky not to complete a hat-trick before the hour mark. Balanced his deeper link-up play with sharp positioning in the box — a complete centre-forward performance.

One of Tuchel’s favourites, he came on and immediately made an impact with a driving run, nearly setting up Saka. Encouraging signs that he can link up effectively with Bellingham, even in limited minutes.

He had a relatively quiet 25 minutes but connected play smoothly, likely leaving a positive impression on Tuchel.

Has he ever dropped below a 7/10 for England in the past four years? Even in a brief 20-minute cameo, the Premier League winner worked hard defensively and surged forward confidently to assist Marcus Rashford. Once fully fit, he will reclaim his starting spot ahead of Madueke — and performances like this explain why.

Marcus Rashford: Finished his goal beautifully, proving his knack for scoring in big moments. While Gordon may offer more balance between attack and defence, Rashford’s quality in decisive situations makes him indispensable. He strengthened his case to start against Ghana.

Another substitute made an explosive run soon after coming on, forcing Livakovic into action again and helping create Rashford’s goal. He could form an exciting partnership with Saka at this tournament if given more opportunities.

Another late substitute had little time to influence proceedings — something England will take positively, as the match was already secure.