England 4-2 Croatia: World Cup 2026 – live

David Hytner was at the Dallas Stadium, and here’s his report …

… here are Ed Aarons’ player ratings …

…. arguably most importantly of all, here’s Anna C, following up her potted history of KEX (87 min) with the skinny on PLOPP: “Plopp has been around since the 1940s, and lord knows what they were thinking back then, so your guess is as good as mine.” Thanks Anna, and thanks to you all for reading this MBM!

Thomas Tuchel – whose half-time “speech” has the potential to go down in legend, should England make it this summer - talks to ITV …. he’s giving off relaxed, calm, content vibes. “Good second half … good reaction … the first half was a bit complicated for us … bit nervy … decisions we took … too safe … played too many balls backwards … didn’t have the confidence to find the gaps … 33 percent ground duels won in the first half … 73 in the second … off the ball it was not brave enough … I loved the reaction of the players in the second half … it was excellent … we deserved to win … but it was emotional … it took us a while to get going … but we did get going. that’s the positive … [at half-time] I just reinforced … even if we lose it will not change my perception of the last 17 days … but let’s do it our way … we are too focused on the result … on protecting what we anyway don’t have at the moment … the second goal was an example … we were a back seven and didn’t defend the goal, so why be a back seven? … if the result doesn’t go our way, we want to play the way we want to … tried to encourage them to go for it … we are exhausted,. don’t get me wrong, I love exhausted players in the dressing room … today there is only positives … tomorrow we fix all the other stuff.”

As for possible injuries to Declan Rice. Marcus Rashford, both spotted slightly limping after the match: “I hope they are OK … I would normally never take Declan out … but I didn’t want to take any risk.”

Jude Bellingham speaks to ITV. “The second half especially, we really showed what we are about … the team we want to be … the first half we were a little bit nervy, cagey … rushed a bit … the second half we created a nicer rhythm … [Tuchel’s half-time ‘speech’] wasn’t a big drama … he wasn’t standing up shouting … it was just what the team needed … everyone knew the level we had to get to … the start of the second half gave us a good platform … credit to the manager. his staff … the [second-half] intensity was top level … we hit the mark today.”

Post-match postbag. “Impressed that Tuchel told team at half time that ‘if we lose, we lose in our way’. At so many tournaments, England play as if they’re afraid to lose” – Anil Patel

“This England side is more reminiscent of the team we usually see strolling through qualifications without any pressure. than the tournament version which usually breaks down for one reason or another” – Joakim Haby

“Seeing England play against Croatia always makes me think of 2018, when I was thirteen, still had bangs. braces, and went to summer camp in who-knows-where America. A nearby university student from England was one of our counselors (is that the right word?). he was OBSESSED with the World Cup. He made us all sit. watch England games with us and since he played soccer, he explained the rules to all of us middle schoolers who had never heard of soccer before. He sparked my love for the game. Second-to-last day of camp, he comes tearing across campus screaming that England had scored against Croatia. We all ran to join him in watching the rest of the game. It was my first ever heartbreak. I don’t remember the guy’s name-it might have been Ben or Mark-but if you’re reading this. man, you’re the reason why I love the sport today. And I hope you are having a better time watching this game today” – Rebekah Voss

We have pictures as well as words. An eye-catching performance from England has a gallery to match.

Harry Kane speaks to ITV. “It was a game of two halves … first half we was OK … really disappointing to concede in the way we did … the way we dropped off … credit to the manager who gave us a speech at half time … he said if we lose, we lose in our way … you saw that in the way we came out second half … we went full gas. they couldn’t deal with it … that’s the level we have to set for every game … credit to everyone … the intensity we went at is our biggest strength … we have to use that more in this tournament … it’s three points on the board and a great start … whoever plays, everyone is ready.”

England soak up the love from their fans in the Dallas Stadium. A lot of positives for them to enjoy. The attack flowed: Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham. Marcus Rashford all opened their accounts, Noni Madueke was consistently dangerous, and Bukayo Saka, still gingerly coping with injury, will be delighted with his assist. Hats off as well to Thomas Tuchel. his assistant Anthony Barry, whose half-time fume powered England to their second-half heights. Managerial tweaks not to be sniffed at. The first half was a curate’s egg, and the defence might need some work, but you can’t have everything. Plenty to build on going forward.

Harry Kane’s clinical first-half double – let’s forget about the farcical first attempt at the penalty – means he ties Gary Lineker’s England record for goals at World Cups at ten. It also means there are only nine players in history to have scored more times at the World Cup. Here’s the list. which won’t still look like this at the end of the tournament, you can be sure of that.

A little bit of payback for the 2018 semi-final, and England are off to a flyer.

90 min +6: Kane hasn’t given up on that hat-trick,. cuts in from the right before launching wildly into the stand behind. A punter claims the dropping ball and yelps in delight at his save.

90 min +5: The corner drops to Gvardiol, six yards out. He must score … but Kane throws himself the road of the shot to block! No hat-trick for Kane today, but that’s as good as a goal.

90 min +4: Perisic heads down for Kramaric, who has a go from the edge of the England box. Blocked. Perisic comes again, and wins a corner off Spence. He’ll take it himself.

90 min +2: Marco Pasalic diddles his way down the right but can’t get past O’Reilly. Otherwise, Croatia look dejected, their race run.

90 min: There will be six additional minutes.

89 min: England thoroughly deserve this for their high-octane second-half display. Two superb goals. Some questions remain in defence, perhaps, but that’s for later. Enjoy the moment.

87 min: Stones is replaced by Guehi, England’s final swap tonight. Meanwhile Anna C has the lowdown on KEX: “It’s actually Kexchoklad (it says so in white on red if you zoom a little) where kex = wafer. choklad = choklad, describing what it is quite to the point, as is the Swedish way. This is very important, as this is THE classic Swedish snack candy for any ski outing, school sports day or similar,. as such oozes nostalgia. I will not get into the pronunciation (k pronounced shhh or with a hard k) controversy, as it is on par with the.gif quarrel,. as everyone with half a brain knows a hard k is the only way to go.”

Game over! Saka skips down the right touchline and looks for Spence. His pass doesn’t find his man, but he regains the ball. rolls infield for Rashford, who is free on the edge of the box. Rashford chops inside, gives Livakovic the eyes, and curls a low shot into the bottom right. Lovely England move! Saka magnificent, with a finish to match.

84 min: Kovacic finds a pocket of space in the middle, 35 yards out,. tries to catch Pickford out with a threaded effort towards the bottom left. There’s no pace whatsoever on the shot and it’s an easy snaffle for the keeper. But England are sitting deep and inviting pressure.

82 min: Spence hares after a pass down the inside-right channel. can’t force a shot past Livakovic, who has conceded three times despite playing like a superstar. Who’d be a goalie?

81 min: “Entertaining goals and chances are all well and good, but what’s the xG?” wonders Eddy Nason. “I believe that’s the official currency of football now.” Your wish is my command, Eddy. England are on 2.36 while Croatia lag behind on 0.38.

81 min: Kramaric crosses from the left. Pickford punches clear, though not particularly convincingly. The ball drops to Sucic, on the edge of the box. Pickford breathes again as Sucic flays a dismal effort miles over the bar.

80 min: Bellingham, tonight’s difference maker, is replaced by Spence. England perhaps looking to shore things up and keep hold of what they have.

79 min: Croatia make a double switch, replacing Mario Pasalic and Baturina with Kramaric and Vlasic. Meanwhile ITV report that Rice was limping a little bit when he left the field of play. so that should power the news cycle for the next few days.

77 min: No, this game isn’t done and dusted. Matanovic has a whack from distance. It’s heading into the bottom left, but not at enough pace to beat Pickford.

76 min: Marco Pasalic scampers down the right, enters the box,. makes enough space to shoot from a tight angle. Pickford, who has had little to do in this second half, parries well. A reminder that this game is not yet over. “I can tell you one thing, Scott,” begins Nelson Calvinho. “Pub owners must love these hydration breaks. Every time one comes along, everyone in the pub heads to the bar to get ‘hydrated’ in sympathy. I reckon pubs will really miss them once the Premier League season ends.”

75 min: Rashford nearly latches onto Stanisic’s weak back-header down the England left. Livakovic comes to the edge of his area to block-clear, just in time.

74 min: Rogers jinks down the right but upon entering the Croatia box can’t link up with Saka.

72 min: England make their first changes. Rogers comes on for Rice, Saka replaces Madueke, and Gordon makes way for Rashford.

71 min: Plopp and Kex, though!

70 min: … and that’s drinks. More vindaloo sauce and pepper dip, anyone?

… although the red-and-white checkerboard pattern of Belgium’s ketjep mayo seems more on point for the Croats. Meanwhile in completely unrelated news, here’s your regular reminder that the Sweden entry features sweeties called PLOPP and KEX.

69 min: Madueke crosses from the right. Kane flicks on for Gordon, whose first-time belt is blocked by Stanisic. A move not totally unlike the one that led to Croatia’s second equaliser.

68 min: England’s pace has dropped a little bit. They were unlikely to keep that up for the entire second 45, to be fair. “Roll on the Hydration Break,” hollers Rich Cutler. “I’ve done a whole bag of Revels already, and really need to brush my teeth. How much longer? I liked those Keith Williams pictures, btw.”

66 min: Croatia make a double change, replacing Musa and Vuskovic with Matanovic and Marco Pasalic. (The Pasalic who started the game, and remains on, is Mario.)

64 min: Kovacic steals the ball off O’Reilly and sends Sucic sashaying into the England box from the right. But Sucic takes one touch too many in his attempt to beat Stones,. runs the ball out for a goal kick. A little bit better from Croatia, who were seriously reeling and rocking back there.

63 min: Croatia have calmed it down a bit since Kovacic’s arrival. More possession as they attempt to settle the game down. England are still pressing hard, though, and all of the play is in the Croatian half.

61 min: Thomas Tuchel has been hovering on the touchline since the restart. His mere presence seems to be encouraging England into action. They’ve been super-intense in this second half. “I’m sorry, but are England fun to watch now?” splutters Matt Emerson. “This is a deeply unsettling turn of events. We haven’t been fun since Joe Mercer was in charge. we got rid of him sharpish to make sure it didn’t happen again.”

59 min: Are these words not enough? No they are not. Gallery here!

58 min: Modric, who has looked his age tonight, is replaced by Kovacic. Croatia had to do something. England are all over them.

56 min: Livakovic punches the corner clear. Hard. But the ball comes into the box again. Kane tries to force home. Livakovic makes another save with strong hand. Then the ball’s sent in a third time. Stanisic just about holds Kane off, six yards out. Livakovic with a one-man supershow!

55 min: Madueke and James combine down the right and earn yet another corner. Rice saunters over to take it in the Arsenal style. But when it’s eventually sent in, football breaks out! O’Reilly meets Rice’s delivery and powers a header goalwards. Livakovic sticks up a hand to stop. Gordon has another go. The keeper parries again! What a double save! But it’ll be another corner, this time from the left.

53 min: One Rice corner from the right leads to another. From the second, Madueke tries to break into space down the right, but toes out for a goal kick. He was caught late by Modric,. is unlucky not to earn a free kick just to the side of the box. But goal kick it is.

52 min: Rice swans in from the left flank, opens his body,. sends a power curler towards the top right. It’s not quite tucked in the far corner, and Livakovic is able to turn around the post. But it’s another England corner, and Croatia are hanging on a bit here.