England the entertainers lay down a World Cup marker

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England’s two biggest stars, Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, were both on the scoresheet - Francois Nel/Getty Images

This World Cup has started at a fearsome pace, obliging England to join at a similar tempo – and among their many big names who started fast in Texas one can add the name of Jude Bellingham.

Two goals from Harry Kane, a substitute’s flourish from Marcus Rashford, and before that – in the critical stage of the game with the score level – Bellingham’s crucial third for England. Thomas Tuchel’s No 10 has had to adapt to the evolving tactical approach of the German coach and Bellingham’s position changed twice on this evening before he was substituted, but his nose for the defining moments endured.

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It was Bellingham who ran down the right on 46 minutes in pursuit of Elliot Anderson’s ball on the outside. His finish gave England the lead for the third time in an absorbing game, and from there they would not relinquish it.

Against the best non-top seed team in the tournament, England had to shake themselves free, but eventually they put on a performance that offers no little hope for this American summer.

Tuchel went through many changes. He played his box midfield, with Kane and Bellingham as a pair of No 10s, later moving Bellingham back into one of the two No 6 positions when Declan Rice was substituted. That would change again when Bellingham came off and Reece James moved into midfield from right-back. This had the sense of a manager planning for outcomes, and his team’s set-pieces were of the highest quality.

Kane scored his second unchallenged from a header in the 42nd minute, but that owed much to the sophisticated blocking system that had opened the channel for him.

Nico O’Reilly was afforded a second similar chance by the targeting of the ball into the areas away from the zonal markers Croatia deployed. England emerged at 2-2 at half-time and drove their opposition backwards in their best period of the game.

In that period, they were at their most potent. Tuchel’s assistant Anthony Barry had delivered a critical half-time interview – “complicated and confusing” was his verdict. It appeared that the players were stung by whatever Tuchel said to them in the break and responded well. They should have scored many more in that period.

They had twice taken the lead in the first half, with Kane’s original saved penalty ordered to be retaken by the French referee Clement Turpin.

By the end they had run Croatia hard and Tuchel’s big substitutions made a difference. On came Bukayo Saka, Rashford and Morgan Rogers. The Arsenal man picked out Rashford to finish for the fourth.

11:47pm

And finally Thomas Tuchel speaks to ITV Sport

Good second half, good reaction. First half was complicated, we made nervy decisions, chose to go safe and safe, go backwards. [We had] no confidence to go through gaps… I have seen a stat that says we won 33 per cent ground duels compared to over 73 in second half so off the ball  we were better in the second as well.

We deserved to win it, it was emotional it took us a while to get going but was positive. 

Just said even if lose will not change perception of last 17 days so let’s so it our way. We were too focused on result and protecting. [Croatia’s] second goal we had a back seven and still did not defend the goal so we wanted to play the match the way we want to so we encouraged them to go for it 

[Bellingham is] a very good player. He deserved to start what he needs to do to fight for his place and keep his place.

I hope they are OK [Rice and Rashford]. I would normally never take Declan out… but I didn’t want to take any risk.

The reaction was excellent and effort enormous. We were not clean enough in first half… we are exhausted but I love exhausted payers in dressing room. That was what we needed today. We can fix everything else tomorrow. Tonight there are only positives. 

11:35pm

Here’s Jude Bellingham

The second half especially, we really showed what we are about, the team we want to be. The first half we were a little bit nervy, cagey. We set up well without the ball but we rushed a bit.

The second half we created a nicer rhythm and you saw the best of us.

[What did Tuchel say at half-time?] It wasn’t a big drama. He wasn’t standing up shouting. It was just what the team needed. We have a mature group, great leaders in there. Everyone knew the level we had to get to.

The start of the second half gave us a good platform. I don’t remember all 23 passes but Elliot’s was a special one. The work that goes into creating those plays takes us weeks to get right so credit to the manager and his staff.

It’s my responsibility to my team and country to give everything I have. It’s been a long season, I’ve missed  more camps and and games than I would have liked but I know I’ll step up for my team.

Second half was more than flashes. it was constant level of high intensity. Was impressed, the subs came on Rashy [Rashford] and Bukayo [Saka] [were good as soon as they came on] we hit the mark today.

11:24pm

A stat to ponder

11:20pm

Greatest hits

England players stand in front of their fans after the final whistle as Wonderwall blasts out. They’ve walked back the changing room and Hey Jude rings out. 

11:16pm

Harry Kane speaks to ITV Sport

First half I thought we were OK. Really disappointed to concede the way we did by dropping off. Credit to the manager who gave us a speech at half-time to say if we lose we lose but we lose in our way. And we came out in the second half, full gas and they couldn’t live with it. 

Credit to everyone. First game of the tournament against a tough side. 

Without the ball we went a little more aggressive. It’s difficult. They’ve got great players. When Luka [Modric] is dropping in. In the second half we thought if we see a man in front, we go. And we played with the intensity that is our biggest strength.  We have to use that more this tournament. 

That second half to be sure [is the template]. And once we went ahead [for the third time] we never looked like [conceding] and then we scored on the counter. But we had a spell in the first 20 minutes [of the second half] when we cold have scored three or four. 

Three points on the board, great start. 

Great goal, great run, great finish – you can see the desire from Jude in training. The competition we have, everyone is high level whoever plays. Jude was itching to get out there. 

11:07pm

Carra’s full-time verdict

It’s been a brilliant tournament so far, and this was the best game yet. In any major competition, you want the top players delivering and we’ve seen that: Mbappé, Messi, Vinicius Jr and now Bellingham and Kane. 

England may be the big entertainers of the World Cup. I’m not sure that wins you the tournament, but on this evidence it’s going to be fun watching them try.

11:06pm

England player ratings vs Croatia

England got their World Cup campaign off to a winning start in Dallas with a 4-2 victory over Croatia.

Harry Kane scored twice to move level with Gary Lineker as England’s highest scorer at the World Cup finals, Jude Bellingham repaid the faith shown in him by Thomas Tuchel with the second-half winner before Marcus Rashford scored their fourth of the evening.

Who impressed and whose starting place for next week’s match with Ghana is at risk? Rate each player with our voting tool, and have your say in the comments.

Read the marks out of 10 here.

11:04pm

Full time: England 4 Croatia 2

England have started their World Cup campaign with a fine second-half performance after a shonky first 45 minutes. A hugely impressive turnaround that mus be a credit to Tuchel and his players. It would have been all too familiar for England to be unable to change their fortunes and meander on chaotically through the second half. But they seized the game by the slack of its pants and dragged it their way.

11:00pm

90+6 min: England 4 Croatia 2

Kane throws himself in the line of fire to block Gvardiol’s thumping volley when pouncing on a flick-on from the corner and stops a goal-bound effort. England break from the rebound and Saka swaggers forward, the ball under his immaculate control at high pace. Rashford plays a one-two with him and when he gets it back is shut out by Sutalo.  

10:58pm

90+4 min: England 4 Croatia 2

Spence tackles Perisic to concede a corner. Guéhi replaced Stones after the fourth goal. 

10:57pm

90+2 min: England 4 Croatia 2

Kane is penalised for a knowingly clumsy foul. 

10:55pm

90 min: England 4 Croatia 2

The fourth official signals six minutes of stoppage time. 

10:55pm

88 min: England 4 Croatia 2

They used to say, well they did on Minder, that a surefire way to get a greyhound to do its best was to ‘shove mustard up its tuchas’. England certainly had the equivalent at half-time, a transformational Tuchel rocket.They have been so much better. 

10:49pmGoals • Video • Key moments

GOAL!

England 4 Croatia 2 (Rashford) Fabulous move. Saka hares up the right, plays it to Spence, receives it back and cuts infield to bends a curling pass to Rashford to the left of the penalty spot. Rashford took a touch with his left to wrongfoot Stanisic, sent him off to buy a pint of milk and an Evening News, opened his body then passed the ball into the bottom right.

10:49pm

84 min: England 3 Croatia 2

England dropping alarmingly deep and cede enough space between midfield and defence to allow Kovacic to burst through to shoot. Mercifully for England he finds precision but no power. 

10:47pm

83 min: England 3 Croatia 2

Livakovic to the rescue again when Spence is set off on a raid upfield from right-back, succumbs to summit fever with his final touch before shooting and the keeper once again pulled off a vital save. 

10:46pm

81 min: England 3 Croatia 2

England have yielded a bit too much possession over the last couple of minutes. Maybe they are trying to draw Croatia on to them and counter-punching. 

If we were watching this on Monday Night Football we would be saying, ‘This is a great advert for the Premier League.’ Unless he had an injury, it’s interesting Tuchel substituted Rice. He is not trying to protect the lead. England need another goal.

10:44pm

78 min: England 3 Croatia 2

ITV reports that there is a suggestion that Rice was limping and that is why he has been replaced. I didn’t see that. 

Kramaric comes on for Baturina and Spence for Bellingham with James moving into midfield. 

10:42pm

76 min: England 3 Croatia 2

Marco Pasalic, cuts in from the left and hammers a low shot that Pickford saves well. A moment earlier Stanisic’s weak header almost gives Rashford a chance to run through but Livakovic continues his excellent performance by racing off the line to cover his colleague’s mistake. 

10:39pm

74 min: England 3 Croatia 2

Rogers’ first jinking run takes him into the box where he darts between Perisic and Gvardiol but then finds the ball stuck under his studs as he tried to roll it to Saka. 

Tuchel had a very long chat with Bellingham at the latest advertisement – sorry rehydration – break. He then gathered his players into a circle and gave them a full-on team-talk. It seems the England head coach is determined to make the most of the breaks, even if we don’t all like them.

10:37pm

Carra’s verdict

Anthony Barry might end up being man-of-the-match for his half-time comments. He was spot on. England’s second half has been brilliant – much quicker and with more purpose, although it is still intriguing to me how we are approaching this competition. This is the game of the tournament so far. 

10:37pm

72 min: England 3 Croatia 2

It’s a triple substitution:

Rogers for Rice, Rashford for Gordon and Saka for Madueke. Bellingham drops from 10 to a berth alongside Anderson, I think. 

10:34pm

69 min: England 3 Croatia 2

Madueke floats a cross from the right that Kane nods on to Gordon who smacks a roundhouse right-foot volley into Sutalo’s thigh. Croatia threaten to counter but Bellingham is alert and makes an important tackle to stop them in their tracks. 

The final hydration break is called by the referee. 

Rogers and Rashford are coming on. 

10:31pm

67 min: England 3 Croatia 2

Jorfan Henderson, Eze, Rogers and Rashford are warming up. 

Two subs by Croatia:

Marco Pasalic replaces Vuskovic and Igor Matanovic replaces Musa. That means a switch to a back four. 

10:29pm

65 min: England 3 Croatia 2

Anderson is whacked across the shin by Perisic as he telescoped out his right leg to try to knock the ball away. England free-kick 45 yards out. 

10:27pm

63 min: England 3 Croatia 2

Some American celebrities we’ve never heard of titillate the crowd when shown on the big screen. 

10:27pm

61 min: England 3 Croatia 2

Kane throws his hands to his temples in protest when he is penalised for a trip on Kovacic. Nice but of hamming for the referee but it was a foul. 

10:25pm

59 min: England 3 Croatia 2

Croatia’s goalkeeper has kept them in it. England really do need to strike again while they are enjoying such dominance.

10:24pm

57 min: England 3 Croatia 2

Five chances are thwarted by Livakovic within a couple of minutes. First a brilliant save from O’Reilly’s bullet header from the corner, then, when sitting on the floor recovering from that, he pats away Gordon’s follow up. That save sets up another England corner from which he saves from Kane’s shot low to his right, claws away another curling chip and then smothers a fifth shot, this time from the right, England’s 18th shot on target in total.

England are all over Croatia.

No country for old men, this. Modric is replaced by Kovacic after reelin’ and a rockin’ all game.

10:21pm

54 min: England 3 Croatia 2

Although Croatia defend that corner they are looking besieged by England’s relentless wave of attacks. Now they have another one after Kane’s quarter-back pass out to the right for Madueke and James to chase in combination. James is tackled by the byline and the ball dribbles out to give Rice another chance from the corner quadrant. 

10:17pm

52 min: England 3 Croatia 2

England have certainly woken up after what we assume was a half-time rocket. Rice storms down the inside-left channel to within 25 yards of goal, opens his body and bends a right-foot shot towards the top right that is turned behind for a corner. 

10:16pm

50 min: England 3 Croatia 2

And it really should be 4-2. Bellingham wriggles down the inside left channel to fire a shot that Livakovic turns behind for a corner. Rice whips it to the back post and O’Reilly, unmarked, has a free header but pumps it into the hoardings. 

10:11pmVideo • Goals • Key moments

GOAL!

England 3 Croatia 2 (Bellingham) That’s a terrific move. Konsa to James who spins it infield to Anderson. The Forest midfielder bends a right-foot pass 25 yards up the right. Madueke may have flicked it on or dummied it as Bellingham was yelling for the ball a couple of yards ahead. The Real Madrid midfielder takes the ball on, cuts across Pasalic, and bombs off into the box to scud a shot across Livakovic and into the bottom left corner.

10:10pm

46 min: England 2 Croatia 2

No changes as yet. Lee Dixon agrees with Matt Law and is concerned about Stones, 

10:09pm

If that’s what Barry thinks…

Then Tuchel will have read them the riot act. 

10:08pm

An angry England assistant Anthony Barry speaks to ITV Sport

A complicated an confusing first half from us. A lot of nervous energy which may be excusable in the first game of the World Cup. We made some decisions when then energy wasn’t free in our minds, playing long when we should have played short and playing short when we should have played long. Fearful patterns. No threaded passes to accelerate game.

10:03pm

Tuchel’s gamble on rusty Stones not going to plan

A penny for Marc Guehi’s thoughts. Tuchel’s decision to stick with Konsa and Stones hasn’t gone to plan. Stones was at fault for Croatia’s first goal and Konsa could take some of the blame for the second. England’s defence has been flagged by many as a weakness and it is certainly proving to be the case in Dallas.

10:00pm

Carra’s half-time verdict

That has been a very worrying first 45 minutes. England started nervously – understandably – but everything has been so disjointed and poor. It feels like we want to be a  Premier League team in an international football tournament, relying on set-pieces and counter-attacks. I still believe we will win the game with changes from the bench. More pace is coming. But I am concerned about what I have seen. Are we not worried about dominating possession?

09:58pm

Half-time thoughts from Dallas

Defensively England let themselves down twice They were slow to react to losing but possession for the first goal and James lost his man for the second. England playing a classic box midfield – Unai Emery style – with Rice and Anderson at the base and Bellingham and Kane as the top. Kane not playing as a conventional No 9. Wingers making inside out runs. Short passes to build out from the back and then, as soon as they break a line, looking to release runners in behind. Very 2026 football.

Thomas Tuchel cannot be happy with that half from England. Twice they have gone ahead and twice they have retreated and conceded with some pretty poor defending. The shape of the team does not look quite right and, surely, it should not be the plan for Harry Kane to be dropping so deep? Too many players look nervous and not in control.

09:53pm

Half-time: England 2 Croatia 2

Hard to sum up a performance of such contrasting quality. A handful of impressive moments down the right and from a Rice special-style corner and some woeful defending. 

09:50pmVideo • Goals • Key moments

GOAL!?!

England 2 Croatia 2 (Musa) VAR check to see whether Perisic was offside in the build-up. But no. He was level and Musa exposes England’s dozy defending all half by firing in a volley from seven yards from the left of the penalty area. Pasalic had chipped it to Perisic who cushioned a header to Musa. The Dallas centre-forward had crept in unmarked and steered his shot past a helpless Pickford.

09:49pm

45+3 min: England 2 Croatia 1

There are five minutes of stoppage time and England are living dangerously by inviting Pasalic to shoot from range. He can fire them in from 30 yards but this one whistles past the right post. Kane claims he was fouled by Pasalic but the ref tells him to get up and get on with it. 

09:46pm

45+1 min: England 2 Croatia 1

James plants the free-kick straight into Modric’s stomach. He must have abs of tungsten as that would have winded most men. 

09:46pm

44 min: England 2 Croatia 1

England free-kick 28 yards out, left of centre, for a rather soft foul on Bellingham. James lines it up.

09:44pm

Kane levels with Lineker

Kane now level with Lineker on 10 World Cup goals. That’s another record coming his way, then. Will England be Set-piece FC at this tournament? It might not be the worst strategy. 

09:42pmVideo • Goals

GOAL!

England 2 Croatia 1 (Kane) Rice, the master of the inswinger, whips an outswinger from the right. Kane eludes his marker and meets the ball to the left of the penalty spot and arrows his header into the bottom left. In fact there was no marker at all. They gave him a free run. Crazy. 

09:41pm

41 min: England 1 Croatia 1

England corner on the right taken by Rice…

Pickford and Stones seemed to exchange words after that Croatia goal. For my money, Stones was at fault for going to ground far too easy and wildly. It was reminiscent of the way Ollie Watkins left him on his backside on the final day of the Premier League season.

09:41pm

Croatia deserve that

Croatia deserve their equaliser. They have been the better side. England have been poor. The opening goal should have eased the nerves. Instead, they look even more anxious. 

09:36pmVideo • Goals • Key moments

GOAL!

England 1 Croatia 1 (Baturina) An absolute screamer from 20 yards, wrapping his right instep round it and making it swerve from the right of the D towards the top left. The shot, according to Fifa, was 120kmh and flew past Rice and through Pickford, who was at full stretch. Set up by Sucic’s clever dummy in the box when he shaped to shoot but then rolled it back to Baturina.

09:36pm

34 min: England 1 Croatia 0

Engalnd have been very good at winning the ball, turnovers in modern parlance, tackles in old money. One such Anderson tackle sets Bellingham off on a run upfield that ends with James standing up a cross that Kane just couldn’t reach.

It’s not been great so far – a strange opening 30 minutes. You’d have thought the goal would be a platform for domination. Instead, we’ve allowed Croatia to get on the ball. While it’s OK for Kane to drop deep, he shouldn’t be so deep that he is passing from the edge of his own penalty area. Madueke has been the spark so far. We need to keep getting him on the ball. 

09:34pm

32 min: England 1 Croatia 0

Bellingham has a gilded chance.  But he can’t quite get there after Kane worked a 20-yard pass from the centre to Madueke who skitters towards the box then whips in a low cross, bending slightly away from goal towards the penalty spot. Bellingham slips between Vuskovic and Sutalo and only needs a firm touch to stab it in but the ball slides off his toe and squirts off towards the corner flag. Lovely cross from Madueke who has impressed so far. Gordon very good on the press, too. That’s why Barcelona have bought him.

On a broiling day in North Texas, the mercy of this game being held under a roof can scarcely be overstated. When Germany played South Korea in Dallas’ open-air Cotton Bowl at the 1994 World Cup, in temperatures of 38.5C (101F), the players said that they could feel the heat scorching through the soles of their shoes.

09:30pm

29 min: England 1 Croatia 0

Kane buys a foul at the edge of England’s penalty area with a quick turn and his strength to shield it.

09:30pm

A tale of two penalties

Kane’s first effort is saved - Hannah McKay/ReutersBut he makes no mistake when given another chance - Francois Nel/Getty Images09:27pm

25 min: England 1 Croatia 0

England fans sing ‘What the f------ hell was that?’ after the tea-break.  

Interesting contrast in approach from the two coaches during the hydration break. Thomas Tuchel has his players in a tight circle and is forcefully making some tactical points. Croatia’s Zlatko Dalic has just let his team get on with it.

09:23pm

23 min: England 1 Croatia 0

First drinks break in a stadium that is cooled by air conditioning. 

PAUZA ZA HIDRATACIJU as they say in Croatia. Fans in Dallas booed the hydration break.

09:22pm

21 min: England 1 Croatia 0

Bellingham takes a short pass from Harry Kane on halfway and heads off on a dribble up the inside-left channel. Madueke is screaming for a pass on the right while Gordon is not even in the picture. Bellingham feints to the right then darts to his left to run into the box but is swamped by defenders rallying back and can only shoot into a thicket of Croatia’s shins.

Since the goal – and the retake – England’s short passing game much slicker. They have moved the ball very well looking for the moment for Gordon or Maudeke or Bellingham to run in behind.

09:20pm

19 min: England 1 Croatia 0

England are yet to find any true cohesion though Kane has looked good dropping deep to spray passes out wide. 

09:18pm

Carra’s verdict

England’s centre-backs started very nervously. You could tell it was the biggest game of Konsa’s career due to a few early mistakes, but that’s understandable for a World Cup debut.

The penalty retake was a stroke of luck that bodes well. England needs Kane to have a brilliant tournament. We can’t overestimate the difference to his confidence after he was immediately given the chance to make amends for a rare miss from the spot. 

09:18pm

16 min: England 1 Croatia 0

Superb Kane diagonal chip invites Madueke to launch himself out of his blocks and gallop down the right to take the ball in his stride, tack into the penalty area and shoot from an angle of about 60 degrees from the post but Livakovic came out smartly to rush him and he spread himself to block the shot, flying starfish style.

Noni Madueke appeared to shout ‘vamos’ to try to encourage the England crowd. Anthony Gordon claimed he had learned Spanish in just six lessons, so maybe Madueke is practising his.

09:16pm

14 min: England 1 Croatia 0

Croatia want a penalty when Musa goes down in the box having used a velvety touch to spin it past James who tried to grab him then thoight better of it. The referee awards a corner than rescinds even that when he gets a call from VAR.

09:11pmKey moments • Video • Goals

GOAL!

England 1 Croatia 0 (Kane, pen) Second bite of the cherry, this time he nails it, whipping it into the bottom right corner.

That goal means Harry Kane now has nine goals in World Cups for England and he is just one behind Gary Lineker’s record of 10. I don’t think we will see another stutter run-up from him on penalties at this tournament.

09:10pm

Saved!

Like his last penalty in a World Cup, it’s saved, by Livakovic low to his left. 

But there was a Croatia player in the box. Gvardiol.

Retake. 

09:09pm

England penalty

Modric blindsided by Madueke as he tries to clear the corner, boots the England winger. Stonewall pen or ‘stonebonker’ as Terry Venables used to call them.

09:08pm

8 min: England 0 Croatia 0

England corner on the right when Kane spins 16 yards out to shoot and it’s deflected behind. The chance was set up by robbing a dawdling Modric.

09:07pm

7 min: England 0 Croatia 0

Tuchel said in his pre-match interview that they anticipated that Kovacic would start and his absence would affect their pressing strategy but the players were good enough to adapt. They haven’t as yet. 

09:06pm

5 min: England 0 Croatia 0

Sloppy start by England with their use of the ball in wide areas in defence and then when Madueke doubled back instead of taking the chance to have a run at Gvardiol. Opening games are almost always riddled with caution and nerves.

Stones is hounded by Musa - Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters09:04pm

3 min: England 0 Croatia 0

Perisic takes the corner from the right O’Reilly gets under the ball, misses the header at the back post but Sutalo hooks a volley miles wide. 

Zlatko Dalić appeared to give Thomas Tuchel a gift in a bag just before kick-off. Might it be an official Fifa Croatia 2026 watch? Ot maybe one of the 2022 editions Fifa couldn’t shift ...  

09:02pm

2 min: England 0 Croatia 0

Sucic presses Stones aggressively in the England area when O’Reilly invites his former City team-mate to take a pass in a tight pocket. He wants to give it to Pickford but Sucic won’t let him and England have to concede a corner. 

09:01pm

1 min: England 0 Croatia 0

Declan Rice kicks off for England who are attacking from left to right. They have three runners on the right and they roll the ball back to Pickford to launch it 70 yards diagonally. Gvardiol wins the header and the ball goes from end to end and back again with long clearances. 

08:57pm

The formalities over

It’s time for an advert break. I thought ITV might not have one for England games but, hey, Manhattan lofts don’t come cheap. 

08:54pm

National anthems ahoy

First up is God Save the King followed by Lijepa nasa. Croatia are heart-clutchers like the locals. 

08:52pm

The teams are in the tunnel

England will play in all white, Croatia, as they did in the 2018 semi-final (shut up, Jonah), in all blue. 

08:51pm

When Jürgen met Jordan again

08:49pm

Pre-match entertainment

England fans did not like their rendition of Sweet Caroline being cut short. They booed when the music changed before the end of what has become a national football anthem. I used to quite like it, but I’ve got to be honest - I think it’s time to move on. Any suggestions are welcome…

Kicker Conspiracy? 

 The biggest cheer when the England team is read out is for captain Harry Kane. It sounds like Jude Bellingham is being booed but it’s just the fans shouting “Juuuude”.

08:47pm

Infantino’s vacuous plea

“Join with us in a round of applause for peace,” implores the stadium announcer, in a moment of mind-numbing vapidity. Both England and Croatia fans seem bemused by the request. Fifa president Gianni Infantino seems convinced he is in contention for a Nobel and is presiding over a “Unite for Peace” slogan at every match. It might help, of course, if the host nation were not at war with one of the participants. As Iran’s inferior treatment in the United States highlights, certain problems are beyond even this hubristic bureaucrat’s diplomatic powers. 

08:44pm

Luka Modric’s pre-match thoughts

Croatia captain Luka Modric wins his 199th cap tonight - Tony Gutierrez/AP Photo

I have a lot of confidence and belief in this team. We have a lot of young players and still some old guard.

I have always said that age is just a number. For me it’s not important. It’s important how you feel and what you do on the pitch.

08:41pm

Cheap at twice the price

On the subject of Fifa merch, a PR gets in touch to tell me that the official Fifa watch partner Axia Time can sell me its premium England Fifa 2026 watch for the modest consideration of $1,495 [£1,126]. Cheaper models are available. The top of the range model is the England Argos, although presumably it’s not available in Argos. Only 14 countries get their own bespoke Fifa 2026 watch and sadly Scotland is not featured. Presumably because the Scots just wouldn’t pay those kind of prices. Just who might remains a mystery, but Fifa is not missing an opportunity to tap the massive US market.

08:40pm

Home town hero

Croatia striker Petar Musa has home advantage on his side. He became the most expensive player in FC Dallas history in 2024, when the MLS club paid a club record $9.7million to sign him from Benfica. It will be interesting to see and hear whether he gets any extra support inside the stadium today.

08:34pm

England warm up

Harry Kane, John Stones and Reece James warm up with a rondo - Martin Rickett/PA08:31pm

‘Sweet spot’

There is a school of thought that Thomas Tuchel has smartly managed the situation around Jude Bellingham by firstly – in effect – laying down the law and suggesting some of his behaviour has to change and then gradually re-integrating him back into the team so that he can peak at this World Cup. Tuchel has talked about Bellingham being in a “sweet spot”. He will become the youngest European player, at 22 years and 353 days, to make an appearance at four major tournaments which is some achievement.

08:28pm

Thomas Tuchel speaks to ITV

This is what we have worked for to be ready for the day. I don’t want to be anywhere else in the world so let’s go.

These are ideal conditions to play an intensive match. That’s our aim. We stick with the team that started so well against Costa Rica. In training yesterday Bukayo Saka was amazing [but] we will not start and finish this match with 11 players. We have players who can influence and change matches from the bench. That is important.

It was a 50-50 call to go with Jude [instead of Morgan Rogers].

08:14pm

Not Johnny Cash at all but navy

Big fan of the Croatia squad’s navy knit polo shirts with red and white trim. All of them wearing them as they got off bus with blue slacks and white trainers. The vibe is Sterling Cooper company barbecue. Stylish. 

Croatia rocking the knitwear - PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images08:11pm

Your line-ups in black and white

England (4-2-3-1) Pickford; James, Konsa, Stones, O’Reilly; Anderson, Rice; Madueke, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane. 
Substitutes  Dean Henderson, Trafford, Guéhi, Burn, Spence, Quansah, Jordan Henderson, Mainoo, Rogers, Eze, Saka, Rashford, Watkins, Toney. 

Croatia (3-4-2-1) Livakovic; Sutalo, Vuskovic, Gvardiol; Stanisic, Modric, Petar Sucic, Perisic; Mario Pasalic, Baturina; Musa. 
SubstitutesPandur, Kotarski, Pongracic, Caleta-Car, Jakic, Erlic, Moro, Kovacic, Vlasic, Fruk, Luka Sucic, Kramaric, Budimir, Matanovic, Marco Pasalic.

Referee Clément Turpin (France).

07:58pm

Jamie Carragher: England’s plan is obvious

Thomas Tuchel is unleashing his £300m midfield against Croatia’s olden generation. Jude Bellingham cost £115m. Declan Rice was £105m. Elliot Anderson will be sold for over £100m after the World Cup.

Between them, their average age is 24. They have youth and energy on their side.

Compare that with Croatia’s most prominent stars, including 40-year-old Luka Modric – a great of the game but past his peak – and another veteran in Ivan Perisic (37). Croatia have included a couple of younger players in their starting XI to cover for their legends, but the plan for England is obvious. Inject as much pace as possible into the game. 

Tuchel’s two biggest calls focused on who would play as the 10 and on England’s right. The inclusion of Bellingham and Noni Madueke do not exactly qualify as shock choices, but they give the clearest insight into Tuchel’s approach. He is picking players to fit his system, not changing the system to accommodate players.

In a previous era, the lack of full fitness for Bukayo Saka would have led to Cole Palmer or Phil Foden’s inclusion – players of a completely different profile. We now see why Tuchel did not take them to the United States. 

In Madueke he sees a like-for-like replacement. Madueke is not the same level as Saka, but for the make-up of the side, he is quick and will stick to his role as a winger. England’s attack is built around Harry Kane and Tuchel wants speed around him.  

The midfield and wingers will be key for setting the tone Tuchel demands. We have come into many tournaments hoping to see the speed and intensity of a Premier League game, and for many reasons, it is very difficult to achieve that at a World Cup.

Tonight will be the first test of whether Tuchel’s vision for how England want to play can match the reality of what it is really like in a major international tournament.

07:55pm

Sub in name only

Trevoh Chalobah is named as a substitute on the official team-sheet for this match - but he is in Kansas rather than Dallas. Thomas Tuchel called him up to the World Cup squad to cover for Tino Livramento’s injury - but he heads to the team basecamp rather than this game. There is a behind-closed-doors friendly against Sporting KC tomorrow so he may get a run-out in that game.

Mike McGrathHarry Kane leads England off the team bus - Hannah McKay/Reuters07:51pm

Croatia have refreshed their line-up

Regula starters Kovacic, 32, Bidmi, 34, and Karamic, 34, are all on the bench. The 19-year-old Luka Vuskovic who spent last year on loan from Tottenham at Hamburg is a brilliant prospect. Looks like 4-5-1 with FC Dallas’s Petar Musa playing in his home state if not his home stadium (the MLS club play in Frisco).

07:42pm

England’s evolution

Twenty-five months ago England;s starting XI for the Euro 2024 final was:

Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guéhi; Saka, Mainoo, Rice, Shaw; Foden, Bellingham; Kane.

Only five start tonight. Three are not here (Walker, Shaw and Foden) and three are on the bench.

07:36pm

Confirmation of the England team

As called by Matt Law, below. It’s the same XI that started the Costa Rica game:

07:33pm

Oliver Brown live and direct from the house Jerry built

07:33pm

Put out more flags

England fans sly their flags - Hannah McKay/Reuters07:28pm

Croatia have arrived at AT&T Stadium

Croatia pay tribute to Johnny Cash with their team outfits - Martin Rickett/PA07:23pm

A message from Thomas Tuchel

07:21pm

Nico O’Reilly to face two City team-mates tonight

City send best wishes to Mateo Kovacic and Josko Gvardiol:

07:14pm

England fans face World Cup flag ban

England fans have become known for the sea of St George’s flags they have draped around stadiums at World Cups for the last half a century.

But this summer supporters are being restricted in where they can make their mark.

Telegraph Sport understands that fans arriving for England’s first game in Dallas will be limited to draping their flags on rails behind the goals.

For those sitting elsewhere, a ban will be enforced on any displays which interfere with the stadium’s LED hoardings.

Like at many stadiums across the US, brightly lit digital displays dominate the 70,000-capacity AT&T Stadium, stretching around the stands on multiple tiers.

England fans are making do to fly the flag tonight…

England fan hangs his flag - Marc Atkins/Getty ImagesMarc Atkins/Getty Images07:06pm

No time for dreams when commerce calls

At least 100 people in the queue outside a single Fifa merchandise concession behind one of the goals. That’s the Fifa dream. The American appetite for spending extra at sporting events as sharp as ever.

Fifa merch included half-and-half scarves at an eye-watering $45 (£33.60) a piece. You don’t get those prices outside Premier League stadiums. 

Mike McGrath07:00pm

Tuchel sticks with same starting XI from Costa Rica friendly

More team news from Dallas. Having reported that Jude Bellingham is in line to start against Croatia, it now seems Thomas Tuchel will name the same team that started England’s final warm-up game against Costa Rica.

That would mean Noni Madueke starting on the right, with Tuchel deciding not to gamble on the fitness of Bukayao Saka. Ezri Konsa appears to have got the nod over Marc Guehi to partner John Stones at the back, while Anthony Gordon appears to have won his battle with Marcus Rashford.

Telegraph Sport reported last week that England head coach Tuchel was veering towards naming the Costa Rica team against Croatia and there does not seem to have been a late change of plan.

The projected team is: Pickford; James, Konsa, Stones, O’Reilly; Rice, Anderson; Madueke, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane.

06:58pm

View from the press box

Pitch looks in good nick and is being tended to by groundstaff with brushes. Dallas Stadium, home of the Cowboys NFL team, is a spectacular arena and Fifa have been pleased with how they have embraced the World Cup. One Fifa source said: “They know how to host an event.”

Mike McGrath06:52pm

Chilling

The official pitchside heat is a cool 22C. Outside it is so hot that Fifa officials dished out bottles of water to media waiting in line.

 On the inside of stadium now; roof closed and it’s very cool temperature wise. There are some narrow staircases where fans have hung St George cross banners but nothing permitted to obscure the big electronic wrap ad boards. 

At least 100 people in the queue outside a single Fifa merchandise concession behind one of the goals. That’s the Fifa dream. The American appetite for spending extra at sporting events as sharp as ever.

06:49pm

You can’t come in with that

An England fan is refused entry because his bag is too big even without the flag, tucked under his arm - James Manning/PA WireNot tonight, lads - James Manning/PAJames Manning/PA06:43pm

The eternal cry of Yorkshiremen the world over. How much?

Rare is the matchday that my colleague Mike McGrath doesn’t kick off his Telegraph Sport duties with a refreshing margarita. But at these Dallas Stadium prices – no way. As you can see by his stunned expression, he won’t pay $25.50 (£19.05).

Sam Wallace06:30pm

Channelling Sir Alf

Thomas Tuchel was channelling Sir Alf Ramsey with the tracksuit he wore on the eve of this World Cup opener. The blue zipped top with the Three Lions looked very similar to Ramsey’s from when he won in 1966.

Thomas Tuchel wears a Nike tracksuit top modelled on Sir Alf’s old Umbro drill top - Hannah McKay/REUTERS

Tuchel, at his pre-match press conference, was asked about the fact that every World Cup-winning manager was from the country of which he was in charge. 

“I didn’t know about his stat but it is time to break this routine and show it is possible,” said the German. “I remember the first parade after a cup win in Dortmund and you realise what it means to fans. Doing this for a country, I can only imagine what joy it brings. Nobody gives a guarantee to win it but the way that we try, I hope fans can feel it and be proud of it.” 

06:23pm

Tuning up for kick-off

England’s greatest hits:

06:21pm

Have you had a go on our World Cup predictor?

Oliver Brown has and plotted the paths to glory:

You can have a go yourself here:

06:15pm

Slaven Bilic on Croatia’s greatest player

No midfielder in history is better than Luka Modric

Eight years ago Luka Modric led Croatia to the World Cup final - JOE KLAMAR/AFP

When it comes to Luka Modric, I am not objective. I am not saying that he is the best-ever. No. But I am saying that nobody is better than him. No-one. Would he be the first player that I would sign, even at 40? Absolutely. Because of the overall package.

Do you remember what Marcelo Bielsa said about him? “Luka is not a six, he’s not eight, he’s not a 10. He’s a 24.” And that is brilliant. You will find midfielders who score more goals, who run more, who pass better, who are better defensively. But there is no midfielder who, if you add all that up, is better than him. He would have the highest score. He can do it all.

05:56pm

Harry Redknapp joins the Daily T podcast

Harry Redknapp, who was ‘the people’s choice’ for the England job in 2007 and 2012, losing out to Fabio Capello and Roy Hodgson, has been talking to the Daily T:

05:51pm

Early birds…

England fans gather at AT&T Stadium almost four hours before kick-off, one of them dressed as Bellingham, another as Kane - Martin Rickett/PAAnother Kane and Bellingham duo among the fans flocking early to AT&T Stadium - Martin Rickett/PA05:46pm

Don’t mess with perfection

The Croatia shirt this year has been desecrated by the meddlesome design fraternity, as you can read here in Thom Gibbs’ magnificent octopus. 

But this is something special:

05:41pm

How Croatia play

Zlatko Dalic has been Croatia’s manager for nine years now, and they play a very distinctive, possession-heavy game which platforms the quality of their midfielders. That department of the team is a faded force with Modric 40 and Mateo Kovacic struggling for fitness at Manchester City this season. They benefitted from quite a soft qualification group featuring Czech Republic, Faroe Islands, Montenegro and Gibraltar. Used a 5-4-1 in spring friendlies against Colombia and Brazil, perhaps acknowledging they cannot dominate games as they once did.

This is an extract from our comprehensive team guide which you can read in full here.

05:30pm

Bellingham to start

Jude Bellingham is expected to start England’s first World Cup game against Croatia tonight.

England head coach Thomas Tuchel has been deliberating between Bellingham and Morgan Rogers in the build-up to the game.

Telegraph Sport reported last week that Bellingham is in pole position for a starting place and that appears to be the case for the Croatia clash in Dallas.

The battle between Bellingham and Rogers for the No 10 role is one of Tuchel’s biggest decisions at this World Cup.

05:26pm

Envelope pushed

His nibs has some ground to make up after Lionel Messi celebrated his escape from a red card by bagging a hat-trick. 

You can follow his progress with the equally venerable Dan Zeqiri here. 

05:18pm

Betting on tonight’s game

05:10pm

Your one-stop shop for Telegraph’s best World Cup pieces

04:53pm

Alchemy and the broadcaster’s curse

Good evening and welcome to live coverage of England’s opening game of the 2026 World Cup when they take on Croatia in Dallas, Texas at 9pm. Mercifully, given the roof and the aircon, temperatures will be considerably cooler than the 34C forecast for outside, as relatively mild as 20C which will obviously help England but will also benefit Croatia’s Dad’s Army whose expected starting XI has an average age of 32 years and six months.

This is the second most difficult first-group game in the tournament – Brazil and Morocco are separated by one place in the FIfa rankings, England, in fourth, are seven spots higher than Croatia, the team that knocked them out of the World Cup at the semi-final stage in 2018. But Gareth Southgate’s side would go on to beat them 2-1 in the Nations League four months later and again, by virtue of Raheem Sterling’s goal, 1-0 at the Euros in 2021.

We have Southgate to thank for England’s improved record in the opening games of World Cups. His England beat Tunisia 2-1 eight years ago in Russia and Iran 6-2 in Qatar but before that decent results were sporadic – in 1970, 1982 and 1998 – strung together by the draw with Uruguay at Wembley in 1966, defeat by Portugal in 1986, the stultifying draws with Ireland in 1990, Sweden in 2002, Algeria in 2010 and defeat by Italy in Brazil four years later. Even the 1-0 win over Paraguay in Frankfurt 20 years ago was as dull as ditch-water and set the tone for England’s stinking performances thereon.

One thing Southgate did not manage to overcome is the curse of ITV, which is showing this match exclusively live in the UK. Of the 34 England games the channel has broadcast since 1998, there were merely 10 victories, a win rate of 29 per cent. BBC, by contrast, eviscerated for its studio base in Salford for the group stages as if it were wholly materially different from a studio in Manhattan where there are also no matches being played, has 21 England wins from 31 games, a rate of 67 per cent. 

Not that Thomas Tuchel will give a fig, striking this author at least as the embodiment of practicality. And yet anyone who remembers Chelsea’s magnificent performance in their Champions League semi-final victory over Real Madrid in 2021 know he has a touch of the alchemist about him too.  

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