England vs Croatia 2026

England Edge Croatia in Dallas Thriller to Top Group L

A blockbuster Group L encounter at Dallas's AT&T Stadium delivered six goals and relentless drama as England overcame a resilient Croatia 4-2 to seal top spot in their group. Harry Kane set the tone early, coolly converting a 12th-minute penalty to give the Three Lions the perfect start. But Croatia, never a side to fold easily, hit back through Martin Baturina in the 36th minute, his finish silencing the predominantly pro-England crowd and signaling that this contest was far from settled.

The first half exploded into chaos in its closing stages. Kane restored England's lead with his second of the night in the 42nd minute, only for Néjib Ghommidh to level matters again right on the stroke of halftime, sending both sets of players into the tunnel at 2-2 in a breathless deadlock. The decisive blow came almost immediately after the restart, as Jude Bellingham struck in the 47th minute to nudge England back in front. The midfield maestro's strike proved the turning point, and substitute Marcus Rashford sealed the result in the 85th minute, putting the gloss on a hard-fought 4-2 victory.

The result carries significant weight at the top of Group L. England finish first with 7 points, carrying momentum and a statement performance into the knockout rounds, while Croatia advance in second place on 6 points despite the defeat — their earlier results enough to keep their World Cup dreams alive. For Ghana (4 points) and Panama (0 points), the campaign ends here, both nations eliminated at the group stage. England's attacking firepower, spearheaded by Kane's brace and goals from two of their brightest stars, will have rival nations watching nervously as the tournament intensifies.