England 4-2 Croatia: FIFA World Cup 2026 fixture for the third tournament running thanks to a brilliant brace from Harry Kane and second-half goals by Jude Bellingham and substitute Marcus Rashford.
The Three Lions had scored an early set-piece in the teams’ 2018 World Cup semi-final encounter but lost; this time they prevailed thanks to a strong second-half display rewarded by goals at either end of it by Bellingham and Rashford.
Kane had missed a spot-kick on his previous World Cup appearance, the 2022 quarter-final against France, and Dominik Livakovic saved his initial kick to his left.
However, referee Clement Turpin called for a retake with replays showing Croatia’s goalkeeper had stepped off his line and defender Josko Gvardiol’s encroachment.
Each Kane goal was followed by a terrific Croatia equaliser. For 1-1, Petar Sucic laid the ball back to Baturina who curled it into the right-hand corner via the palm of Jordan Pickford.
It was the cue for a dominant spell by England who summoned the intensity coach Thomas Tuchel had asked for, forcing a string of saves by Livakovic. He was eventually beaten again, though, with Rashford’s composed finish after excellent work by fellow substitute Bukayo Saka.