FIFA World Cup 2026: Harry Kane stars as England beat Croatia 4-2
Texas, June 18
England opened their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with an entertaining 4-2 win over Croatia in their Group L clash at the Dallas Stadium on Wednesday.
Harry Kane scored twice, Jude Bellingham produced a standout second-half strike, while substitute Marcus Rashford added a late goal to complete the victory as Thomas Tuchel's side overcame a determined Croatian challenge.
England were handed an early opportunity when Noni Madueke was fouled by Luka Modric inside the box, winning a penalty in the 11th minute.
Dominik Livakovic initially saved Kane's effort, but VAR ruled that the goalkeeper had stepped off his line early, forcing a retake. Kane converted the second attempt to give England the lead.
Croatia responded well and levelled the score in the 36th minute through Martin Baturina. Luka Sucic's incisive run ended with a cut-back to Baturina, who fired a powerful shot past Jordan Pickford during a strong phase of Croatian pressure.
The England skipper Kane delivered a commanding display, scoring a brace against Croatia, with one goal coming from the penalty spot in the 12th minute and another in the 42nd minute, helping England secure a strong start to their campaign.
Kane became only the second England player to score in three separate FIFA World Cup tournaments (2018, 2022, 2026), joining legend David Beckham (1998, 2002, 2006).
The Bayern Munich striker also equalled another major milestone, reaching 10 FIFA World Cup goals -- the joint-most by an England player alongside Gary Lineker.
In addition, Kane set a new global benchmark by scoring the most non-penalty shootout penalties in FIFA World Cup history, taking his tally to five.
During the clash, Ivan Perisic also became the second player to register an assist at four different FIFA World Cup tournaments. The Croatian player joined Argentine legend Lionel Messi as the only players in history to achieve the feat.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Great game, but Croatia gave them a real fight. Bellingham's goal was a beauty. I miss the days when football was less about VAR and more about the flow of the game. Still, happy for Kane -- he deserves the records.
Kane is on fire! 🔥 As an Indian who follows football, it's amazing to see a player like him setting new records. But honestly, I wish our country would invest more in football development. We have so much potential but no vision. 😔
England's defense still looks shaky. They conceded two goals against a Croatia side that isn't as strong as before. Thomas Tuchel has work to do. But Kane's milestone is remarkable -- 10 World Cup goals is no joke. Respect!
Exciting match! Kane and Bellingham are a lethal combination. Croatia's Perisic is also a legend -- assisting in four different World Cups is insane. Football in the US feels different. World Cup vibes are unmatched. 🏆
I appreciate the skill, but I wonder if we're overhyping Kane a bit. Yes, he scores penalties brilliantly, but open-play goals matter too. Still, credit where it's due -- he's a top striker. India needs to learn from England's youth development system.
A We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.