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DON’T MISS A MOMENT OF THE WORLD CUP

Thomas Tuchel’s impact on England is already visible, though their defensive frailties remain an issue. The winners and losers from England’s 4-2 victory over Croatia reveal much about their prospects, with A-listers Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham both making strong statements in their opening 2026 World Cup fixture.

Tuchel declined to detail exactly what he told his players at half-time when the score was tied 2-2. England had been underwhelming up to that point, and the German manager insisted that he simply offered calm, encouraging words urging courage. In truth, his message likely carried more bite than he let on.

Whatever was said clearly had the desired effect. England transformed a lacklustre first-half showing into a dominant second, adding two more goals and reaffirming their credentials as one of the tournament’s favourites.

Harry Kane opened the scoring after being allowed to retake a penalty initially saved by Dominik Livakovic, who was penalised for stepping off his line. Croatia, however, clawed their way back into the contest.

Tuchel’s choice to omit Marc Guehi in favour of John Stones and Ezri Konsa came under scrutiny, and those doubts seemed justified when Inter midfielder Petar Sucic cut inside with ease. Stones took the bait, and Sucic’s move opened space for Martin Baturina, who fired into the top corner.

England reclaimed the lead within minutes. Declan Rice delivered a pinpoint corner — reminiscent of his Arsenal form — which Kane headed home. Yet Croatia equalised again when Mario Pasalic chipped over a deep-lying defensive line, allowing Ivan Perisic to nod into the path of Petar Musa, who volleyed past the keeper.

After the interval, England’s response was decisive. Elliot Anderson, quiet before the break, released a clever pass down the right. Jude Bellingham muscled past his defender and slotted coolly into the bottom corner. Livakovic’s heroics — seven saves in total — kept Croatia in the contest until late on.

England sealed the win in the 85th minute when Bukayo Saka found substitute Marcus Rashford, who calmly finished into the corner.

Despite the result, England’s defensive issues persist. Their backline looked uncertain, and concerns will linger about their game control, particularly with Rice managing a knock. Still, their attacking depth and second-half energy suggest they will be a formidable force over the next few weeks.

GOAL breaks down the winners and losers from Dallas...

WINNER: Harry Kane

Kane got his penalty miss out of the way early. Having converted seven consecutive spot-kicks since his infamous miss against France at the 2022 World Cup, he technically made it eight after being allowed a retake when Livakovic moved too soon.

Kane’s second attempt was emphatic, and he followed up with a vintage performance — linking play, occupying dangerous positions, and drawing fouls. His partnership with Noni Madueke impressed throughout, and his second goal, a well-taken header, punished Croatia’s poor marking.

With that, Kane became the leading penalty scorer in World Cup history, joined Gary Lineker as England’s top scorer at the tournament, and became only the second Englishman to score in three separate World Cups — all while keeping pace in the Golden Boot race. A job well done.

LOSER: Luka Modric

Luka Modric remains a remarkable footballer — the man who broke the Lionel Messi-Cristiano Ronaldo duopoly to win the 2018 Ballon d’Or. But this performance showed his age. At 40, he struggled to influence proceedings and conceded an early penalty after arriving late on a 50-50 challenge with Madueke.

Although his passing accuracy stayed high, Modric never dictated the tempo. Croatia’s midfield was outnumbered, yet in his prime, he would have thrived in such scenarios. This time, he looked every bit the veteran, unable to match England’s youthful intensity.

He made way before the hour mark for Mateo Kovacic, who immediately injected energy. Modric remains untouchable in terms of respect, but it appears he can no longer carry the team as he once did.

WINNER: Jude Bellingham

While Kane delivered, Jude Bellingham might be England’s true difference-maker this summer. The Real Madrid midfielder’s ability to contribute goals and assists from deep offers Tuchel’s side an extra dimension.

After a quiet start marked by bursts of energy but little end product, Bellingham grew into the game. A driving run through midfield hinted at his potential, and his composed finish early in the second half rewarded his persistence. Anderson’s neat pass set him up, and Bellingham’s confident celebration — arms outstretched before the crowd — showed a player full of self-belief.

Later, he dropped into a deeper role, shifting from a No.10 to a No.8, linking nicely with Morgan Rogers. England supporters will hope his influence continues to grow.

“You can rely on Jude in these moments. He thrives under pressure,” Tuchel said after the match.

WINNER: Tuchel’s team talk

Tuchel’s frustration at half-time was evident. Assistant coach Anthony Barry hinted at it in an ITV interview, explaining that England’s decision-making had been poor: “We made some decisions where the energy wasn’t free in our minds — playing long when we should play short, and short when we should go long. We weren’t playing through the gaps, so we couldn’t accelerate our game.”

Barry added, “We thought scoring the penalty would free us up, but we fell back into fearful patterns. We were hoping the second goal would help us move forward, but conceding again meant we had to address it at half-time.”

While the specifics of Tuchel’s speech remain private, Kane called it a ‘speech’, and Rice said it showed why Tuchel is a ‘top manager’. Tuchel later explained that he and his staff simply “encouraged them to go for it.”

Whatever his words, they clearly inspired a transformation. England came out energised, scored quickly after the restart, and controlled the remainder of the match.

LOSER: England’s defence

England’s attacking prowess has never been in doubt — their depth in forward positions makes it unlikely they’ll go scoreless this tournament. Defence, however, remains a concern. Tuchel’s back four of Reece James, Konsa, Stones, and Nico O’Reilly struggled collectively.

Stones was easily beaten for Croatia’s first goal, Konsa dropped too deep for the second, and James was often caught out of position. O’Reilly, unaccustomed to extensive defensive duties at Manchester City, also looked uncomfortable.

It’s not yet time for panic, but Tuchel must reconsider his defensive setup and personnel before tougher tests arrive.

WINNER: Marcus Rashford

Before the tournament, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Gordon competed directly for the left-wing role. Gordon got the nod for his pressing and defensive work, but his attacking edge was missing here.

Rashford, on the other hand, demonstrated his class. Revitalised after a season-long loan at Barcelona, he sealed the win with a composed finish that summed up his renewed confidence — quick feet, calm execution, and a touch of flair.

Perhaps this will become the pattern: Gordon for energy, Rashford for end product. If Tuchel alternates them around the 60-minute mark, England could have an ideal balance.

How far can England go at the World Cup? With this mix of firepower and flair, only time will tell.