World Cup 2026: Kane, Bellingham and Rashford fire England past Croatia
Key takeaways
- England claimed a convincing 4-2 victory over Croatia in an enthralling Group L encounter in Arlington, Texas, with Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford combining to overcome a resilient Croatian comeback.
- Issued on: 18/06/2026 - 00:00Modified: 18/06/2026 - 00:17
- Jude Bellingham, immediately after half-time, and substitute Marcus Rashford with five minutes to go ensured a winning start for Thomas Tuchel's side after Croatia had fought back to level at 2-2.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
England claimed a convincing 4-2 victory over Croatia in an enthralling Group L encounter in Arlington, Texas, with Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford combining to overcome a resilient Croatian comeback. The Three Lions survived sustained pressure from Zlatko Dalic's side in a match that lived up to its billing as a rematch of the 2018 World Cup semi-final.
Issued on: 18/06/2026 - 00:00Modified: 18/06/2026 - 00:17
By: FRANCE 24 Jude Bellingham #10 of England celebrates with Harry Kane #9 after scoring the team's third goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group L match between England and Croatia at Dallas Stadium on June 17, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. © François Nel, Getty Images via AFP Harry Kane scored twice in the first half as England eventually saw off Croatia 4-2 to launch their World Cup 2026 title assault in Texas on Wednesday.