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Harry Kane scored two goals in the first half as England beat Croatia 4-2 in Texas on Wednesday, starting their World Cup campaign with a Group L win.
Jude Bellingham scored soon after halftime, and Marcus Rashford added a late fourth goal for Thomas Tuchel’s team. Croatia had come from behind twice in the first half.
The match, a repeat of the 2018 World Cup semifinal, which Croatia won after extra time, began with England under early pressure before Kane opened the scoring from a retaken penalty in the 12th minute.
Croatia captain Luka Modric was penalized for a challenge on Noni Madueke inside the box. Kane’s first penalty was saved by Dominik Livakovic, but French referee Clément Turpin ordered the kick to be retaken after video review showed the goalkeeper had come off his line.
Kane scored on his second attempt to put England ahead. Croatia equalized in the 36th minute when Petar Sucic assisted Martin Baturina, who scored past Jordan Pickford.
Six minutes later, Kane headed in Declan Rice’s corner to put England back in front. This goal brought his World Cup total to 10, tying Gary Lineker for the most by an England player.
Croatia answered again in the first-half stoppage time. Petar Musa took advantage of England’s defensive issues to make it 2-2 before halftime.
Two minutes into the second half, Bellingham put England ahead again. He drove down the right and rolled the ball into the corner.
England had several chances to increase their lead through Kane, Nico O’Reilly, and Bellingham. Croatia stayed in the game and created their own chances as England dropped deeper in the final stages.
Rashford settled the contest with five minutes remaining, scoring England’s fourth goal to secure three points from a match marked by defensive mistakes and repeated momentum shifts.
Kane told ITV that England improved after halftime following a team talk from Tuchel.
“I thought the game was two halves really,” Kane said. “I thought the first half we were okay. Really disappointed to concede in the way we did, the way we dropped off.”
Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic called the match “strange and difficult” and said his team made too many mistakes, especially on set pieces.
England’s next Group L match is against Ghana, while Croatia will play Panama.
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