By Daniel Feuerstein | Arlington, TX | June 17th, 2026
Once again, these two European sides in England and Croatia are facing each other in the World Cup. After the last time they faced each other in the Semi-Finals of the 2018 edition, when Croatia won in extra time to face France in the final in Russia. These two sides are facing each other once again in the group stage in North America. Another fabulous match, and this time it would be the Three Lions that get the job done as they take the win by a final score of four goals to two.
Harry Kane retakes his penalty and scores
England started well in the opening moments of the first half, active inside Croatia’s penalty area. As the ball was crossed from the near side, it was bouncing toward Noni Madueke, but Luka Modric tried to clear it away, and instead got Madueke between the legs. The referee blew his whistle and pointed to the spot. Harry Kane took the penalty and was stopped by Dominik Livakovic, but VAR contacted referee Clément Turpin to inform him Livakovic was just off his line and demanded a retake. Kane converted his penalty in the 12th minute to give England the lead.
Croatia equalizes the match
Croatia was hungry to get on the scoresheet and wanted to tie the match up. Making a big run toward the England net, the pass to Petar Sucic saw him enter England’s area, then hold up play as he turned around and saw Martin Baturina trailing the play. Sucic laid the ball off to Baturina, and a big blast from distance beat Jordan Pickford to the near post, and Croatia leveled the match at one in the 36th minute.
Harry Kane at the double
Once again, the former Tottenham Hotspur, now FC Bayern Munich striker, came up big to give England the lead back. They earned a corner at the near side, as Declan Rice walked over to prepare the set piece. He took the quick start and sent the ball toward the middle of the area, and out of nowhere, Kane came in with speed and scored his second goal of the game with a running header in the 42nd minute.
Croatia levels it again in added time
The match entered first half stoppage time, and Croatia continues to find that second goal to level the match again. As the ball was just outside of the area, a looping cross went forward towards Ivan Perisic in the middle of the area. He headed the ball toward his left side, and sneaking in to take the shot was FC Dallas striker Petar Musa as he ran in and headed the ball in the fifth minute of first half stoppage time.
Jude Bellingham regains the lead
Just as the second half got underway for England, they quickly got the ball and made another attacking run to earn the lead for the third time in the match. Eliott Anderson got control of the ball and started the attacking run by passing the ball to the far side toward Jude Bellingham. Once Bellingham got the ball, he was off to the races and wanted to get the glory for himself and his nation as he ran nonstop till he entered the area of Croatia and smashed a diagonal ball that tucked inside the back post, and the lead went back to England in the 47th minute.
Rashford gives England distance
The next goal is crucial as Croatia continued to earn equalizing goals in the first half, but this time it was England who made sure they put some distance between themselves and their opponents. The ball was along the far side of the pitch, and England made some passes to find an open man to create a scoring chance. That was Marcus Rashford as Bukayo Saka found him along the near side of the area. Once Saka gave the ball to Rashford, the shot was just a bit far away from the keeper’s hands and nestled inside the far post for the two-goal lead in the 85th minute.
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