England vs Croatia is not only going to be the first match between the European heavyweights in Group L of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but also one of the biggest of the group stages when they meet at the Dallas Stadium on Wednesday night.
The England vs Croatia clash should be a fiery encounter between two sides desperate to oust one another to bolster their chances of topping the group.
England are definitely among the favourites to win the 2026 World Cup, but they’ll need to be at their efficient best if they’re to get the best out of this sturdy, efficient Croatia side in such a vital game.
Match Details
Dallas Stadium
Arlington, Texas
Wednesday, 17 June
20:00 GMT
Powerful England Determined To Make Statement At Expense Of Gritty Croatia In 2026 World Cup Opener
The England vs Croatia game should be a tightly-fought contest because of the quality on display across both squads for this one.
England are set to play their first major tournament under Thomas Tuchel, who is under pressure to get the best out of this star-studded squad and help them finally win their second FIFA World Cup and end a 60-year-long wait for the elusive trophy.
Tuchel will need to get his game plan spot on to ensure that England can dominate Croatia in this upcoming game and get a statement-making win.
Not only does he need to focus on keeping a strong defensive line, but he also needs his attacking players to get the freedom and motivation to play fluid, free-flowing attacking football and get a commanding victory.
Croatia realises the need to get points from this clash for them to top Group L, and they’ll look to produce a surprising performance against the Three Lions.
Zlatko Dalic will be looking to shape his side to be at their combative best so that they can disrupt England’s shape and get an efficient win.
There have been 10 England vs Croatia matches in the past, with England winning the last two games, but the Three Lions look to get revenge over Croatia for defeating them in the 2018 FIFA World Cup semi-final with a commanding performance in Dallas.
Can Spirited Harry Kane Bring Domestic Form To The FIFA World Cup For England?
Harry Kane is heading into the 2026 FIFA World Cup at arguably the peak of his playing career, having scored a whopping 61 goals for Bayern Munich in the 2025/26 season.
The Englishman realises the importance he plays for England’s ability to win the World Cup, and also knows that performing strongly in the competition will bolster his chances of potentially winning the 2026 Ballon d’Or.
Kane will look to be an inspired leader for the Three Lions, working hard to destabilise the Croatian backline and open up gaps for his teammates to exploit.
He will also need to be smart with his movement and positioning to get to the end of chances frequently, and also finish off any chances that come his way comprehensively to guide them to a big win.
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Unpredictable Andrej Kramaric Looks To Make World Cup Impact At The Expense Of England
Andrej Kramaric has the potential to be a special weapon to drive Croatia deep into the knockout stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and he’ll look to kick-start the tournament in triumphant fashion against England.
The 34-year-old versatile attacking midfielder had a really good 2025/26 campaign in the Bundesliga, boasting 14 goals and six assists for Hoffenheim.
Kramaric is poised to play in his final World Cup for Croatia, for whom he’s scored 35 goals in 115 international appearances so far, and he looks to go off on a high.
He’ll be looking to use his clever off-the-ball movement to dupe the English defenders, as well as being proactive in trying to create chances.
Kramaric’s main role will be to make those late runs into the box and finish off chances clinically to help his side get a stunning win over the Three Lions.
England vs Croatia Injuries
England Injuries: None
Croatia Injuries: None
England vs Croatia Predicted Lineups
Here are our England vs Croatia predicted lineups.
England Predicted XI: Jordan Pickford (GK), Reece James, Ezri Konsa, Marc Guehi, Nico O’Reilly, Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford, Harry Kane
Croatia Predicted XI: Dominik Livakovic (GK), Josip Stanisic, Luka Vuskovic, Marin Pongracic, Josko Gvardiol, Mateo Kovacic, Luka Modric, Andrej Kramaric, Mario Pasalic, Martin Baturina, Ante Budimir
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