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England are finally ready to join the World Cup party – and get underway with their opening game against Croatia in Group L tonight.
Captain Kane delivers
Where would England be without Captain Harry Kane, eh?
Well, for starters, they would have one point to their name instead of three. His first-half brace had the Three Lions in the game when things weren’t going so well.
That brace also earned the striker Man of the Match, and look how buzzing he is to be given the prize. A smile as wide as the gap in quality between England and Croatia in that second half.
Personally, I would have handed that award to Jude Bellingham for the difference he made. For me, he was the matchwinner. However, Kane was obviously superb, too, so I won’t bemoan that decision.
Both will be crucial for the team in this tournament.
‘First half more informative’
Craig Hope at the Dallas Stadium:
Much better second half as Croatia tired, but the first half was more informative over the course of the tournament – big problems in defending (and I’d include midfield in that).
Bellingham came alive in the second half and subs (Saka/Rashford) showed more than those they replaced. The importance of Kane was underlined here. By far the MOTM.
Kane: ‘Credit to Tuchel’
Harry Kane, England captain, speaking to ITV:
I thought it was a game of two halves. First half, we were OK. Really disappointed to concede in the way we did, I thought we dropped off. Credit to the manager, he gave us a speech at half-time and said if we lose, we lose in our way and I think we saw that in the way we came out in the second half. We went full gas and they couldn’t live with it. Credit to everyone for the first game of the tournament.
Without the ball, we went a bit more aggressive. It was difficult. They have players like Luka Modric dropping in and you’re trying to figure out who to pick up. The intensity we want at, it’s our biggest strength and we’ll have to use that more. The way we controlled the game once we went ahead, we never really looked like we were in danger and then scored on the counter-attack. We had a spell where we could have scored three or four.
On Jude Bellingham:
Great goal, great run, great finish. You can see the desire from Jude in training. The competition is high-level. Whoever plays is ready and you saw Jude is itching to get out. Fantastic goal.
Brilliant Bellingham
That is why you don’t doubt Jude Bellingham.
There is no doubt that Bellingham will have read the things said about him this past year. Plenty of people, including me at one point, didn’t believe he deserved to start ahead of Morgan Rogers.
He obviously had that public falling out with Thomas Tuchel, which at the time made it feel like his chances of being England’s golden boy again were toast.
But here we are…
Bellingham was given the nod in the attacking midfield, and boy did he deliver. The midfielder was at it for the majority of the game, breaking up play, driving the team forward, and of course, he scored that huge goal.
Good luck, Rogers, getting back in this side.
‘Bellingham is a big-game player’
Oliver Holt at the Dallas Stadium:
After all the debate about Jude Bellingham, Tuchel picked him from the start and Bellingham scored the critical goal that effectively won the game. That’s what big-game players like Bellingham do.
WATCH: Bellingham scores decisive goal
England celebrate with the fans
What. A. Tune.
The England players were just celebrating in front of their own fans, and Oasis’ Wonderwall was belted out by the doring Three Lions faithful.
And what I will say is the result wasn’t overcelebrated by the players. They know that was a good start, but don’t want to get carried away.
But the fans? Well, I’ve heard ‘It’s coming home’ shouted out four times since the full-time whistle, and I said one of them.
That’s what following football is about, isn’t it?
Sensational second half
I wonder what Thomas Tuchel said to his players at the break?
Whatever it was, it worked a treat. England team came out like a team possessed in the second half; they were all over Croatia from the gun.
Jude Bellingham got the all-important goal within two minutes of the restart, and then it was an onslaught from the Three Lions. They could have bagged four or five in the first 15 minutes after the interval.
Harry Kane just said Croatia ‘couldn’t live with it’, and he is bang on – they crumbled under the pressure.
Now they just need to play like that from the start.
Exciting England
Well, that was thrilling, wasn’t it?
The days of almost falling asleep watching England in major tournaments appear to be over.
In years gone by, England have won group games, but have flattered to deceive, and that has led to mass negativity in the media and the fanbase.
But today, they had the razzle and the dazzle. Tuchel took away the shackles, and the Three Lions mauled the Croatians.
I haven’t seen an England side play with that much freedom at a major tournament in my life. Granted, I was born in 2000, but still.
A great start to Tommy T’s first tournament.
FULL-TIME: England 4-2 Croatia
England start their campaign in style.
A supreme second-half display from Thomas Tuchel’s men ensures they secure an important three points against Croatia.
If it wasn’t for Dominik Lovakovic in the Croatia net, it honestly could have been any number in the end.
But let’s not get too carried away… IT’S COMING HOME!
GREAT BLOCK! England 4-2 Croatia
What a block that is, wow.
And you never guessed who denied Josko Gvardiol a certain goal? That’s right, Harry Kane.
His goal-saving block then sets England on their way, with Bukayo Saka sliding through to Marcus Rashford.
But the winger can’t repeat his earlier trick.
Free-scoring England!
By David Olaseinde
England fans back home are in a celebratory mood after doubling their lead and surely bagging the three points.
