England’s World Cup begins tonight with a fixture that feels bigger than a group-stage opener.
Thomas Tuchel’s side face Croatia at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas, with kick-off at 9pm BST. It is England’s first match in Group L, where Ghana and Panama are also waiting, but the opening assignment is the one that carries the most history, tension and pressure.
Croatia are not the force they were when they broke English hearts in Moscow in 2018, but that hardly makes them a comfortable first opponent. This is still a country with tournament pedigree, an experienced midfield, and a habit of making stronger nations suffer.
For England, the task is simple enough on paper: start strongly, settle nerves, and take early control of the group. In reality, this is the sort of match that can set the mood of an entire campaign before it has started.
Tuchel Faces His First Major England Test
Tuchel has managed huge club matches before, including Champions League finals, but this is different. Leading England at a World Cup brings its own level of scrutiny, and his first tournament match could hardly have been drawn with more narrative attached.
The former Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain manager has spoken about the scale of the job and the privilege of coaching England at the World Cup. Now comes the part where the talk stops and the shape of his side becomes clearer.
There are still questions around how brave England will be. Tuchel has encouraged his players to embrace the pressure, but supporters will want to see that reflected in the performance. England have often carried talent into major tournaments. The challenge has been turning that talent into control and momentum when the stakes rise.
Croatia Bring Old Scars And Fresh Danger
This fixture naturally brings back memories of 2018, when Croatia beat England 2-1 after extra time in the World Cup semi-final. England had led through Kieran Trippier’s free-kick before Ivan Perišić equalised and Mario Mandžukić won it.
That result still hangs around the fixture, even if much has changed since then. England did beat Croatia 1-0 at Euro 2020, with Raheem Sterling scoring the winner at Wembley, but World Cup history gives this meeting a sharper edge.
Croatia’s strength is not just nostalgia. Luka Modrić remains the symbol of the side, while Mateo Kovačić and Perišić give Zlatko Dalić a core that understands tournament football. They know when to slow a game down, when to draw fouls, and when to turn a tight match into a mental test.
That is what England must avoid. If the game becomes tense and fragmented, Croatia will fancy their chances of dragging it into uncomfortable territory. Tuchel’s side need patience, but they also need purpose.
Kane Carries England’s Main Threat
Harry Kane enters the tournament as England’s captain, record scorer and most reliable source of goals. He also arrives after an outstanding scoring season for Bayern Munich, which only adds to the sense that England’s hopes will again rest heavily on his finishing, movement and leadership.
Dalić has made no secret of the danger Kane poses. Croatia will know that stopping him is not just about marking him in the penalty area. Kane’s deeper passing, his ability to link play, and his timing around the box make him difficult to reduce to a single defensive plan.
For England, the key will be making sure he is not isolated. If Kane spends the evening dropping into midfield because service is slow, Croatia will take that as a victory. England need runners beyond him, quality from wide areas, and enough support around him to stop Croatia crowding him out.
Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka could become crucial, depending on how Tuchel sets up. England have enough individual quality to hurt Croatia, but the balance of the attack will matter as much as the names on the teamsheet.
England Have A Squad Issue To Manage
England’s build-up has already been disrupted by the loss of Tino Livramento, who has been ruled out of the tournament with a muscle injury. Trevoh Chalobah has been called into the squad as his replacement, although he is not expected to be involved in the Croatia match.
It is not the sort of injury that should derail England’s campaign, but it removes a versatile defensive option before a ball has been kicked. Livramento’s ability to cover both full-back positions had given Tuchel flexibility, and losing him narrows the options at the back.
That puts extra focus on the defensive selection for the opener. Reece James is expected to be in the frame, while England’s centre-back pairing will also be watched closely. Against a Croatia side that can draw opponents out of shape, England will need concentration as much as athleticism.
The First Result Will Shape The Group
England will be expected to progress from Group L, but the expanded World Cup format does not remove the importance of a strong start. Beating Croatia would immediately put Tuchel’s side in control before matches against Ghana and Panama. Dropped points would not be fatal, but they would bring pressure into the second game.
Bookmakers are treating England as favourites, which reflects the strength of the squad and their status as one of the leading contenders. But Croatia’s recent World Cup record is enough to make this feel far less routine than a normal opener.
For England fans, this is the beginning of another month of hope, stress and familiar over-analysis. For Tuchel, it is the first chance to show what his England are going to be when tournament football gets serious.
Tonight is not likely to decide whether England can win the World Cup. It could, though, tell us plenty about whether they are ready to carry the weight of expectation properly.
