England Defeats Croatia 4-2 in 2026 World Cup Opener, Harry Kane Ties Scoring Record
England secured a 4-2 victory over Croatia in their opening match of 2026 World Cup Group L play in Dallas on Wednesday afternoon. Captain Harry Kane scored a first-half brace, tying Gary Lineker as England's all-time leading goal scorer at the World Cup. Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford added second-half goals, contributing to England's win and avenging their 2018 World Cup semifinal defeat to Croatia.
England kicked off their 2026 World Cup Group L campaign with a 4-2 win against Croatia on Wednesday afternoon in Dallas. The match saw England captain Harry Kane score two goals in the first half, a performance that brought his World Cup goal tally to a record-tying level with Gary Lineker as England's all-time leading scorer in the tournament.
England's scoring began after Croatia's captain, Luka Modrić, committed a foul in the box around the 12th minute. This led to a penalty opportunity for Kane. Although his initial attempt was saved by Croatia's goalkeeper Dominik Livaković, a retake was awarded because Livaković had come off his line prematurely. Kane converted the second attempt, giving England a 1-0 lead.
Further goals from Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford in the second half solidified England's victory. This win also served as a measure of revenge for England, who were defeated by Croatia in the 2018 World Cup semifinals.
(Source: Yahoo Sports Soccer)
