England 4–2 Croatia: Three Lions Begin World Cup Campaign with Statement Victory

England opened their FIFA World Cup 2026 Group L campaign with an impressive 4-2 victory over Croatia, showcasing attacking quality and resilience in an entertaining contest.

Captain Harry Kane led the way with a first-half brace, converting a penalty in the 12th minute before doubling England’s advantage in the 42nd minute. Croatia responded through Martin Baturina in the 36th minute and Petar Musa deep into first-half stoppage time, ensuring the teams went into the break level at 2-2.

England regained control shortly after halftime when Jude Bellingham struck in the 47th minute to restore the lead. The Three Lions continued to press and sealed the result in the 85th minute as Marcus Rashford found the net to make it 4-2.

The victory places England at the top of Group L and gives them a strong start in their quest for World Cup glory, while Croatia will look to bounce back in their next group-stage fixture.

Goals:

England: Harry Kane (12′ pen, 42′), Jude Bellingham (47′), Marcus Rashford (85′)
Croatia: Martin Baturina (36′), Petar Musa (45+5′)

Final Score: England 4-2 Croatia