June 18, 2026: England kicked off their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign in impressive fashion with a 4-2 victory over Croatia, powered by a brace from captain Harry Kane and goals from Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford.
The Three Lions took an early lead in the 12th minute when Kane successfully converted a retaken penalty. Croatia responded strongly and found an equalizer midway through the first half as Martin Baturina capitalized on a midfield lapse before firing a shot past England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
England regained control before halftime when Kane rose highest to head home from a corner, scoring his second goal of the match and drawing level with England legend Gary Lineker’s World Cup scoring record of 10 goals.
However, Croatia refused to back down and struck again in first-half stoppage time. Petar Musa finished off a well-worked move to send the teams into the break level at 2-2.
England restored their advantage shortly after the restart through Jude Bellingham, who produced a brilliant solo run before finishing clinically to make it 3-2. The midfielder’s goal shifted momentum firmly in England’s favor as Croatia struggled to contain the attacking pressure.
Substitute Marcus Rashford sealed the victory late in the game, finishing off a swift counterattack in the 85th minute to put the result beyond doubt.
The win gives England an important three points in Group L and strengthens their position early in the tournament. With confidence high following an entertaining opening performance, England will now look to build momentum as the group stage continues.
Harry Kane’s standout display and Bellingham’s influential performance were among the key highlights as England made a strong statement in their quest for World Cup glory.
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