England stormed to a 4-2 victory over Croatia in their opening World Cup 2026 match in Dallas after manager Thomas Tuchel’s half-time speech inspired the Three Lions to a thumping win.
England were a little shaky in the first half and were twice pegged back by Croatia after two goals from Harry Kane. At half-time, assistant coach Anthony Barry ripped into a “complicated and confusing” performance and Tuchel also had stern words for his players at the break.
It brought an immediate reaction and a third goal thanks to Jude Bellingham, who was too powerful down the right as he fired England ahead. Tuchel’s side were also dominant in the opening spell of the second half, with Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic preventing a huge scoreline.
England then flexed their strength and depth, with substitutes Bukayo Saka combining with Marcus Rashford to provide breathing room with a fourth handing them a two-goal cushion to cap an impressive display and victory.
“Credit to the manager, he gave us a speech at half-time and said if we lose, we lose in our way and I think we saw that in the way we came out in the second half,” England captain Kane said. “We went full gas and they couldn’t live with it.”
Follow all the reaction from Dallas below:
The England change that dispatched Croatia to fulfil Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup promise
Jude Bellingham looked like he can fulfil all that talent, but Thomas Tuchel has already fulfilled one promise. The England manager had promised that an occasion like this World Cup 2026 match would “bring out the best in us”, but it may have done even more than that.
It may well have been the country’s best spell of tournament football in decades, and perhaps the most convincing victory in some time. This ended up 4-2 but it could genuinely have been 7-2 from the 10 minutes after half-time alone. Croatia barely knew where to turn, let alone where to look.
England’s Group L fixtures
(all times BST)
23 June, 9pm: England v Ghana – Gillette Stadium, Foxborough
27 June, 10pm: Panama v England – MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
Why Harry Kane’s missed penalty was overturned by VAR in England v Croatia
Harry Kane received a major reprieve in England’s opening game of the World Cup as VAR intervened to order a retake.
Kane saw his penalty saved by Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic, but referee Clement Turpin paused the game to announce that the kick would be taken again.
Replays showed Croatia defender Josko Gvardiol encroach inside the area before Kane had struck the penalty, and it was Gvardiol who made first contact with the ball after Livakovic’s save.
Next up
England’s second group game sees them face Ghana in Boston on 23 June, with that match kicking off at 9pm BST.
If the Three Lions win that, they’ll likely finish at the top of Group L.
Tuchel: ‘I encouraged them to go for it’
“Good reaction, the first half was a bit complicated for us. It was a bit nervy,” says Thomas Tuchel to ITV.
“The decisions we took, we chose to go safe and go backwards. We struggled to find any rhythm and didn’t have the confidence to go through the gaps.
“I saw a statistic of 33% of ground duels won in the first half and 73% in the second, so even off the ball was not good enough, not committed enough. I loved the reaction of the players in the second half. It was emotional; there were a lot of emotions involved. It took us a while to get going,” he explained.
On what he said at half-time, he added: “Even if we lose, it will not change my perception of the last 17 days but let’s do it our way. We were too focused on protecting the result. We were a back seven and we didn’t defend. If the result doesn’t go our way, we want to play our way. I tried to encourage them to go for it.”
Kane ‘has come up trumps’
“The main man has come up trumps. That is what you want as a nation coming into the tournament,” says Micah Richards on BBC.
“We need our best players performing, Kane, Bellingham, the players off the bench, that is a massive confidence boost for everyone.
“When you mention Mbappe, Messi, Haaland as well, that is an individual striker’s thing where they have their own little competition,” he added.
Harry Kane reveals what Thomas Tuchel said to England players at half-time: ‘If we lose, we lose’
England were pegged back twice in the first-half in Dallas, with Tuchel’s assistant Anthony Barry criticising the players in an interview with ITV at half-time, describing their display as “complicated and confusing.”
Yet the Three Lions came out in the second-half a team reinvigorated. Jude Bellingham put them back in front with a wonderful solo goal and Tuchel’s side could have been out of sight if it wasn’t for the brilliance of Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic.
Rooney on Croatia goal
“We could do some much better with the first goal. I think there were a few elements,” says former England captain Wayne Rooney on BBC.
“Jude [Bellingham] is a bit flat-footed and the defender comes in and wins the ball. I think John Stones can stay on his feet. There’s no real danger and [Jordan] Pickford is in a good position but he doesn’t stay on his feet. He gambles and when he dives in and gambles and it means [Nico] O’Reilly has to go across. It’s a nice set and good cut back and nice finish.
“Could Jordan Pickford do a bit better? I don’t know. He gets a full hand on it. I know it’s quick. It’s a good goal from a Croatia point of view but there’s things England can do better to prevent it.
“I’m always critical of goalkeepers. I think if Jordan is getting a hand on it like he does then he’ll be disappointed,” added the former Manchester United man.
Roy Keane and Gary Neville praise England’s ‘breath-taking’ and ‘fantastic’ performance versus Croatia
The Three Lions had twice taken the lead in the first half, through a Harry Kane brace, but were pegged back by goals from Martin Baturina and Petar Musa.
After the second half restart, England came alive as Jude Bellingham’s individual run and strike restored their lead before Marcus Rashford came off the bench to add a late fourth and secure three points.
“The work that goes into creating that sort of play is obviously one that takes us weeks to get right. Credit to the manager and his staff, they’ve put us in the right place to take those chances,” explains Bellingham on his goal.
“My responsibility to the team and my country is to give everything I have when I cross the line and wear that badge on my front. I want to give everything I can, it’s been a long season for me; I’ve missed more camps than I’d like.
“The second half was more than flashes, in my opinion. The constant level of intensity without the ball was top level; the substitutions that came on were unbelievable. The pressing from the front, we hit the marker there,” he added.
