World Cup – Kane scores twice as England defeat Croatia 4-2

The first round of Group L matches in the 2026 World Cup has concluded, with England defeating Croatia 4-2 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, USA. Following this victory, they temporarily top the group on goal difference, ahead of Ghana.

Early in the first half, Croatia gifted England a crucial goal: in the 8th minute, Luka Modric fouled Noni Madoueke in the penalty area, and Harry Kane's initial free kick was saved by Dominique Livakovic. VAR intervened and ruled that Livakovic had moved prematurely, allowing Kane to retake the kick and score, giving England the lead.

After that, the two sides engaged in a protracted back-and-forth battle. In the 36th minute, a miscommunication in England's midfield gave Croatia a counter-attacking opportunity. With Petar Sučić scoring a long-range shot, the two sides were back on equal footing.

As the first half drew to a close, the game became increasingly intense. In the 41st minute, Declan Rice delivered a corner kick from the right, and Kane headed the ball into the net to score again. In the 45+5 minute, Ivan Perisic headed the ball across the box, assisting Petar Musa to tap it in, and Croatia equalized before halftime.

After the break, England's attack became even more relentless. Just one minute into the second half, they regained the lead: Elliott Anderson delivered a precise long pass from the back, and Jude Bellingham dribbled down the right flank into the box before firing a low shot into the far corner. In the 47th minute, Rice won the ball back in the attacking third and delivered a cross; Bellingham's powerful shot was saved by Livakovic. In the 48th minute, Rice took a corner from the left, and Nico O'Reilly's header at the far post went just wide. In the 51st minute, O'Reilly played a through ball from midfield, and Rice cut inside from the left into the box before curling a shot that was saved by Livakovic.

In the 55th minute, Rice's corner kick from the right was headed on by O'Reilly at the near post, but Livakovic made a brilliant save. Anthony Gordon and Ezri Konsa followed up with shots, but Livakovic thwarted them both. In the 56th minute, Maduek delivered a diagonal pass from the edge of the box, and Kane's two consecutive shots were both brilliantly blocked by Livakovic. In the 81st minute, Morgan Rodgers sent a long pass into the box from the right wing at a 45-degree angle, and Jade Spence's sliding shot was saved by Livakovic.

In the 84th minute, Bukayo Saka cut inside from the right wing and delivered a diagonal pass, where Marcus Rashford dribbled past his defender in the penalty area and curled a shot into the net. Neither side managed to score again, and England ultimately secured a 4-2 victory.

Image source: Internet