The time has finally arrived for England to get their World Cup 2026 campaign underway, with Thomas Tuchel’s side ready to meet Croatia in a Group L opener that is a repeat of their semi-final eight years ago.
Tuchel has made the decision to leave out Bukayo Saka, who needs his fitness managed as he battles an injury. Captain Harry Kane will lead the line in a tournament where the big names have wasted no time in making their impact, with Anthony Gordon, Jude Bellingham and Noni Madueke in support.
While Croatia are much-changed, and arguably a lesser force, compared to the team that broke England hearts in Russia, Luka Modric remains at the heart of their midfield in a group also featuring Ghana and Panama.
Follow all the action below with kick-off set for 3pm local time or 9pm BST:
Read MoreWhy England are finally ready to deliver on their World Cup destiny
How England plot to avenge years of heartbreak by Croatia in critical World Cup opener
How the World Cup’s great survivor Luka Modric and Croatia could torment England again
England v Croatia - World Cup 2026
- Live coverage of Group L clash between England and Croatia from Dallas | Kick-off 9pm BST
- Viewers in the UK can watch the match live on ITV1 from 8pm
- England XI: Pickford; James, Konsa, Stones, O'Reilly; Anderson, Rice; Madueke, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane
- Croatia XI: Livakovic; Sutalo, Vuskovic, Gvardiol; Stanisic, Modric, Sucic, Perisic; Baturina, Pasalic; Musa.
- TEAM NEWS: Saka benched with Madueke, Bellingham and Gordon behind Kane
- MIGUEL DELANEY: How England plot to avenge years of heartbreak by Croatia in critical World Cup opener
Tuchel 'very happy' ahead of World Cup opener
20:11 , Mike JonesIn an interview with BBC Sport, the England boss said: “I know the job I have, I’m very happy that we’re finally here.
“Finally I have a team and I have them for weeks and I have them 24/7. I’m a happy person because I can be a coach and that’s what I love.”
Harry Kane begins pursuit of Messi, Mbappe and the World Cup’s Golden Boot in the form of his life
20:07 , Lawrence Ostlere in DallasHarry Kane was sitting in a press conference ahead of England’s first World Cup game against Croatia just as Norway were wrapping up their 4-1 win over Iraq. Had he noticed Erling Haaland’s two goals? Had he seen Kylian Mbappe score twice too? Of course he had. The race for the Golden Boot has begun, and Kane is well aware of who he’s up against.
Kane was asked to name best strikers in the tournament, by a Swedish journalist fishing for a compliment after Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres both scored against Tunisia.
“If you look at the one playing right now, Erling, and Mbappe scoring a couple for France earlier, they’ve both had fantastic years as goalscorers and strikers, two of the top, top players,” Kane said. “They’ve obviously both started the tournament really well today, so yeah, apart from Sweden, I’ll probably vote with those two as two of the best in the World Cup.”
Harry Kane gets set to chase Messi, Mbappe and the World Cup’s Golden Boot
One hour until kick off
20:00 , Mike JonesAn hour to go until kick off at the Dallas Stadium and the England fans are ready.
What will they see from the team tonight? Will the Three Lions play with fluidity and confidence or should a more reserved performance be expected given their opponents?
We’ll find out soon enough.
England players arrive at Dallas Stadium
19:55 , Chris Wilson
Team news
19:51 , Chris WilsonCroatia look like they’ll play five at the back, with Bayern’s Josip Stanisic and Ivan Perisic as wing-backs.
Luka Modric and Petar Sucic will be in midfield, with Martin Baturina and Mario Pašalic in attacking midfield and Petar Musa leading the line.
Line-ups
19:48 , Chris WilsonCroatia XI: Livakovic; Sutalo, Vuskovic, Gvardiol; Stanisic, Modric, Sucic, Perisic; Baturina, Pasalic; Musa.
Subs: Pandur, Kotarski, Pongracic, Caleta-Car, Moro, Kovacic, Kramaric, Budimir, Vlasic, Jakic, Fruk, Matanovic, L. Sucic, Pasalic, Erlic.
🇭🇷🏴 Mission underway. This is #Croatia starting lineup! 📜 #ENGCRO #WorldCup #HrabarBroj #PokažiSrce #Family #Vatreni❤️🔥 pic.twitter.com/nf625l616I
— HNS (@HNS_CFF) June 17, 2026
Line-ups
19:38 , Chris WilsonEngland XI: Pickford; James, Konsa, Stones, O'Reilly; Anderson, Rice; Madueke, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane
Subs: Guehi, Saka, Rashford, Henderson, Henderson, Burn, Mainoo, Rogers, Watkins, Eze, Toney, Trafford, Spence, Quansah
Your #ThreeLions to take on Croatia! 👊 pic.twitter.com/xLcO8Peaxl
'Big calls' in England line-up
19:35 , Lawrence Ostlere at the Dallas StadiumSome updates from The Independent’s Lawrence Ostlere, who is in place at the Dallas Stadium...
“The big calls? Ezri Konsa preferred to Marc Guehi. Anthony Gordon preferred to Marcus Rashford. Jude Bellingham over Morgan Rogers. Noni Madueke in for Bukayo Saka, although that would appear to be forced by Saka's struggles with a long-standing Achilles injury.
“Tuchel has played Konsa regularly throughout his reign, even sometimes at full-back, and it may be a decision to go for added physicality.
“Gordon impressed against Costa Rica which cemented his place. And with Bellingham, who hasn't had a hugely productive season for goal involvements, perhaps he simply is just not a player you leave on the bench for a big game. Of his six England goals, two opened the scoring and three were late equalisers.”
World Cup 2026 golden boot standings: Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe early front-runners
19:34 , Chris WilsonWill Kane join them this evening?
The race for the golden boot at World Cup 2026 is expected to be fierce, with Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland making early statements in their respective bids to finish the tournament at the top of the scoring charts.
Argentina talisman Messi, 38, fired a hat-trick against Algeria to equal Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup goalscoring record, while Mbappe and Haaland both notched braces in their opening games.
England skipper Harry Kane will now look to match the pace of his striking rivals as the Three Lions begin their campaign against Croatia on Wednesday.
World Cup 2026 golden boot standings: Messi and Mbappe early front-runners
Thomas Tuchel explains why he called up Trevoh Chalobah to England’s World Cup squad
19:28 , Chris WilsonThomas Tuchel has explained his decision to call up Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah to England’s 2026 World Cup squad following an injury to full-back Tino Livramento.
Livramento sustained a calf injury in training at England’s Kansas City base over the weekend and had to withdraw from the squad.
Tuchel could have called up a raft of other full-back options, including Real Madrid’s Trent Alexander-Arnold, Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly and Newcastle’s Lewis Hall.
Thomas Tuchel explains why he called up Trevoh Chalobah to England’s World Cup squad
Group L prediction
19:22 , Chris WilsonThe England-Croatia opener looms large in deciding the destination of the group. That could easily be a draw and leave a chase for goal difference to top the pile but we’ll give a slight edge to England, with Croatia finishing second. Ghana versus Panama is equally important and almost too tough to call, so we’ll say that’s a draw that ultimately sees both sides miss out on qualifying as one of the best third-placed teams.
Croatia preview
19:17 , Chris WilsonCoach: Zlatko Dalic
Star player – Luka Modric, AC Milan: The ageless wonder is still going strong into his 40s, now pulling the strings for AC Milan after iconic spells with Real Madrid and Tottenham. He enters his fifth World Cup having won the Golden Ball as Croatia lost in the final in 2018 and also led them to the semi-finals four years ago. Can he finally get an ageing side over the hump?
Breakout talent – Luka Vuskovic, Hamburg: Just 19 years old, the Tottenham centre-back has excelled on loan at Hamburg this season, being named in the Bundesliga Team of the Season after a stellar campaign and is attracting interest from the likes of Barcelona and Bayern Munich. Physically imposing, aerially dominant and a great reader of the game, Vuskovic is also a threat from set-pieces – scoring six goals for Hamburg and netting his first Croatia goal against Colombia in March.
Fifa ranking: 11.
Odds to win the World Cup: 80/1.
England vs Croatia odds
19:14 , Mike JonesBetting sites favour England to win tonight at 8/11, with Croatia a 4/1 chance to defeat the Three Lions.
The game ending in a draw is priced at 11/4.
Click this link to check out the latest free bet offers on the World Cup.
Croatia preview
19:12 , Chris WilsonThis is likely one last rodeo for a slew of Croatian warhorses such as Ivan Perisic, Mateo Kovacic, Andrej Kramaric, Dominik Livakovic and, of course, talismanic 40-year-old captain Luke Modric.
Runners-up in 2018 and semi-finalists in 2022 is a remarkable return for this golden generation, so do they have enough in the tank to go deep again or are they slightly over the hill? Common wisdom says potentially the latter but there are young talents such as Josko Gvardiol and Luka Vuskovic dotted among the veteran nous.
They cruised unbeaten through a friendly group in qualification with seven wins and one draw and coach Zlatko Dalic will be quietly confident his team can make some noise in North America.
A defeat in the opening game against England would pile a bit of pressure on however, as while Ghana are probably tougher on paper than in reality, a slightly underrated Panama are potentially trickier in real life than they may first appear. Croatia should still qualify for the knockouts relatively comfortably but how much further can they genuinely go?
Inside Thomas Tuchel’s England reign and how the ‘impossible job’ became perfect for a German
19:08 , Chris WilsonThe smiles said enough. After Thomas Tuchel’s first training sessions with England, one of the players’ assessments was instant. “That’s what an elite environment is supposed to feel like.”
The squad still have a great respect for Gareth Southgate, but they all knew Tuchel’s coaching was closer to what they’re used to at club level. The system was instantly more sophisticated, with more depth to triangulated moves and more integrated pressing.
Tuchel, on the other side, was greatly enjoying the sessions. He was getting even more excited about the potential of the team.
How England’s ‘impossible job’ became the perfect role for a German manager
19:05 , Lawrence Ostlere at the Dallas StadiumSome updates from The Independent’s Lawrence Ostlere, who is in place at the Dallas Stadium...
“Hello from the Dallas Stadium in Arlington, quite near Dallas, where fans have been streaming in for past couple of hours.
“It is roasting hot outside, the roads are jammed and the sidewalks are packed with spectators marching towards this epic venue which you can see from far and wide.
“We are currently in a cool media tent outside the stadium, but I took a look inside yesterday and the pitch looks immaculate. The roof will be closed and the air-con will be on, so England have no excuses not to put in a performance here.
“They will even get to enjoy Fifa's mandated advertising hydration breaks, despite the fact the temperature will be around 22C inside.”
England's predicted line-up
19:01 , Chris WilsonWith that line-up news breaking, it looks as though this is how England will line-up this evening.
It seems like it’ll be the same starting XI as Tuchel used against Costa Rica in the final warm-up game:
Bellingham, Gordon & Madueke to start?
18:58 , Chris WilsonJude Bellingham will start in the number 10 position for England this evening, and he’ll be flanked by Noni Madueke and Anthony Gordon, reports The Athletic’s David Ornstein.
It suggests that Bukayo Saka is not fit enough to start, while Thomas Tuchel has obviously opted for Gordon over Rashford on the left wing.
Jude Bellingham will start as England’s No 10 against Croatia, with Anthony Gordon and Noni Madueke flanking him on the left and right wings respectively.
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) June 17, 2026
More from @David_Ornstein in our England vs Croatia live blog ⬇️https://t.co/uJtX8zt2mG pic.twitter.com/YPX4CweHIn
England preview
18:57 , Chris WilsonCoach: Thomas Tuchel
Star player – Harry Kane, Bayern Munich: Appears to be in the form of his life at the age of 32 and is right in the Ballon d’Or hunt after scoring a staggering 61 goals for Bayern Munich in all competitions and helping them to a domestic double. His goalscoring and ability to drop deep to link up play make him the key to this England side.
Breakout talent – Nico O’Reilly, Manchester City: A breakout campaign at club level that saw Man City fans vote the 21-year-old as their player of the season, O’Reilly racked up a phenomenal nine goals and six assists while playing mostly at left-back. A classy ball-player, he looks set to start at full-back for Tuchel’s side but is also an option in midfield if required.
Fifa ranking: 4.
Odds to win the World Cup: 15/2, latest odds from online bookmakers.
Will Tuchel select Madueke or Saka?
18:54 , Mike JonesAt Arsenal Bukayo Saka is the No.1 choice at right wing ahead of teammate Noni Madueke.
They same is true with the duo both selected for England but Saka’s niggling injuries may mean Thomas Tuchel punts for his understudy instead.
"It's quite unique, two players that play in the same position to be as close as we are," Saka said.
"I don't really know how it works, but it works. Noni is like my brother on and off the pitch. We push each other and we speak every day.
"We have that mutual respect for each other and we want each other to do well. The good thing is that we play on the same team and that if one of us is doing well it is good for the other."
England preview
18:48 , Chris WilsonIt’s now 60 years since England’s lone World Cup success – an accomplishment that is becoming increasingly irrelevant given that those who remember it are now all of retirement age and 1966 is closer to the sinking of the Titanic than to today.
More pertinent is England’s recent World Cup record, with semi-final and quarter-final defeats at the last two editions (plus runner-up finishes at each of the past two Euros) meaning Thomas Tuchel is the man tasked with completing the work that Gareth Southgate started. Can a German finally end English football’s six decades of hurt?
In Harry Kane, Tuchel has Europe’s most prolific striker over the past 12 months, plus plenty more quality woven throughout the team. Yet, despite an impeccable qualifying record that saw them win all eight games without conceding a single goal, there is a nagging feeling that the Three Lions are just a slight level below the very best sides in the world, such as Spain and France, and that they might wilt in the North American heat. Only time will tell.
Saka 'ready to go'
18:42 , Mike JonesBukayo Saka’s injury issues are a lingering doubt for Thomas Tuchel but the Arsenal winger says he is ‘ready to go’ ahead of the World Cup opener against Croatia.
"As players, it’s the biggest gamble, especially if you’re not feeling your sharpest,” said Saka.
"You have the choice whether you don’t play or you put yourself out there knowing people are going to judge you the same.
"I’m happy to take the gamble. It paid off, I’d say. I’m going to continue doing that. At the end of the day, people don’t really care how you’re feeling, they expect you to deliver. But I am feeling a lot better than I did in March and I’m ready to go.
"The main focus right now is winning the World Cup. And being my best version of myself for the team."
England's Group L fixtures
18:39 , Chris Wilson(all times BST)
17 June, 9pm: England v Croatia – AT&T Stadium, Arlington
23 June, 9pm: England v Ghana – Gillette Stadium, Foxborough
27 June, 10pm: Panama v England – MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
England prepare for World Cup opener
18:30 , Chris WilsonTwo-and-a-half hours until kick-off in Dallas as England are set to open their 2026 World Cup campaign at the AT&T Stadium.
There’s plenty of expectation around Thomas Tuchel’s side, though there’s some trepidation as well as fans prepare to see a full-strength starting XI in a tournament match for the first time under the German.
Croatia will provide stern opposition this evening, though England will be the favourites.
Bellingham to start for England?
18:25 , Mike JonesIn terms of England’s tactical approach much of the build-up to the first game has been concerned with who will start as the No.10.
Jude Bellingham is seemingly being given the nod ahead of Morgan Rogers but we will not know for certain until the team news drops later.
The Real Madrid star is expected to have Arsenal's Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson of Nottingham Forest alongside him in midfield.
Who is Clement Turpin? England v Croatia referee for World Cup who angered Thomas Tuchel
18:23 , Chris WilsonClement Turpin will referee England vs Croatia in the World Cup.
The French official once riled Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel three years ago during his time as Bayern Munich boss.
So much so that Tuchel branded Turpin “Grade E” after receiving two yellow cards in the German club's Champions League quarter-final second leg against Manchester City in 2023.
Who is Clement Turpin? England v Croatia referee for World Cup confirmed
Fans heading to Dallas
18:21 , Mike JonesEngland’s first match of the 2026 World Cup takes place at the Dallas Stadium in Arlington, near Dallas.
Around 15,000 fans are expected to watch from the stadium and plenty have made their way to the ground already with kick off just under three hours away.
The extraordinary numbers behind Lionel Messi – and the all-time World Cup record now in his grasp
18:14 , Richard JollyThe big news from yesterday – and perhaps the biggest of the World Cup so far on the pitch – came from a familiar face in a 3-0 win for defending champions Argentina...
The journey took him from Gelsenkirchen to Kansas City. It began as an 18-year-old and reached a new level as a 38-year-old. Argentina’s youngest World Cup scorer is also their oldest. He is also, inimitably, Lionel Messi.
Messi’s first World Cup ended in a game in which Miroslav Klose scored one of his 16 World Cup goals; Messi was an unused substitute when Germany knocked out Argentina in 2006. Perhaps revenge came two decades on. Messi drew level with Klose at the top of the all-time standings with his treble against Algeria.
Klose had resigned himself to his fate, anyway. Messi will go past him, Kylian Mbappe surely, too. “The record will be broken eventually,” the German said last week. “Messi is welcome to do it. I'm a huge Messi fan, always have been.”
The extraordinary numbers behind Messi – and the World Cup record now in his grasp
IN pics: England prepare for World Cup opener
18:05 , Chris Wilson
The science of winning the World Cup – inside Thomas Tuchel’s psychological overhaul of England
17:56 , Miguel DelaneyOne of the factors the England manager has been most obsessed with is building the right chemistry, but there is now much more to it than gut feelings about personality. There is a science to it, writes Miguel Delaney in his latest Inside Football newsletter...
The science of winning – inside Thomas Tuchel’s psychological overhaul of England
World Cup fixtures
17:47 , Chris WilsonEngland’s opener is the last game of the day for those in the UK, though fans can look forward to the following action to come on Thursday, 18 June:
- Group L: Ghana vs Panama, kick-off 12am - Toronto, Canada
- Group K: Uzbekistan vs Colombia, kick-off 3am - Mexico City, Mexico
- Group A: Czech Republic vs South Africa, kick-off 5pm - Atlanta, USA
- Group B: Switzerland vs Bosnia & Herzegovina, kick-off 8pm - Los Angeles, USA
- Group B: Canada vs Qatar, kick-off 11pm - Vancouver, Canada
How will England line up against Croatia in their 2026 World Cup opener?
17:38 , Lawrence Ostlere in DallasBukayo Saka will start on the right side, although Tuchel has hinted that fitness issues may limit his minutes at the World Cup – Noni Madueke could turn out to be crucial. Madueke was excellent in England’s best game under Tuchel, the 5-0 thrashing of Serbia in qualifying, and it is possible that Madueke could even usurp Saka as England’s starting winger later in the tournament if he impresses from the bench and Saka struggles for sharpness.
Tuchel’s biggest decision is on the left wing, and a choice between Anthony Gordon and Marcus Rashford. It is a strange dynamic, given Gordon signed for Barcelona days before travelling out to the US for this World Cup. He is effectively replacing Rashford, who spent the season on loan at the Nou Camp but will not have his temporary stay made permanent. Rashford is expected to find another place to play rather than return to Manchester United, where relations broke down last season.
Kane, of course, will lead the line. The England captain scored 61 goals for Bayern Munich this season, and provided seven assists, in an astonishing campaign. He is pursuing the Golden Boot and the Ballon d’Or in North America, as well as the World Cup.
How will England line up against Croatia in their 2026 World Cup opener?
17:30 , Lawrence Ostlere in DallasJordan Pickford will, of course, start in goal and we have a fairly clear idea of the back four. Reece James and Nico O’Reilly will be the full-backs, and the centre-back pairing will be two of Marc Guehi, John Stones and Ezri Konsa.
Both James and O’Reilly have played in midfield for Chelsea and Manchester City respectively this season and their ability and creativity on the ball – particularly James’s passing range – will add another element to the tenacity of Elliot Anderson and the drive of Declan Rice, England’s preferred pair in central midfield.
Jude Bellingham is most likely to start in the No 10 position. Morgan Rogers played a key role throughout qualifying and Tuchel took a hard line on Bellingham’s inclusion in the squad last autumn. But the Real Madrid midfielder is a leader for England, someone who can take the burden off Harry Kane both in terms of his attacking output, with his runs beyond the striker and by assuming responsibility on the field.
England v Croatia build-up
17:21 , Luke BakerWe’re just under four hours away from kick-off in Dallas now. England fans have made Dallas their own over the past couple of days.
Why England must top their group
17:12 , Lawrence Ostlere in DallasIf the first few days of the 2026 World Cup have taught us anything, it is that predicting how the tournament will pan out is a fool’s errand. Cape Verde were not meant to shut out Spain, many people’s favourites. Australia were not meant to beat a talented Turkey. Morocco were not meant to match the might of Brazil.
We can still try to map out the draw, of course. Theoretically, there should be a material benefit in topping each group. Group winners will be rewarded in one of two ways by Fifa’s new 48-team format: either they will get to play one of the eight third-placed finishers in the round of the 32; or they will meet a second-placed finisher but then avoid facing any other group winners until the quarter-finals at the earliest.
For England – on paper, at least – winning Group L would seem advantageous in progressing deep into the tournament. They would be paired with one of the third-placed finishers in the round of 32, teams who are likely to have picked up only three or four points during the group stage.
The real reason why England must top their World Cup group
England vs Croatia: Head-to-head
17:06 , Luke BakerEngland and Croatia have met once in the World Cup before, and we all know how that went... On that occasion, it was Croatia who came out on top, knocking the Three Lions out of the 2018 tournament at the semi-final stage.
The last three meetings between the two sides have also been cagey affairs, with nothing more than a single goal separating them.
After playing out a goalless draw in October 2018 in the Nations League, England won the return match 2-1 a month later when goals from Jesse Lingard and Harry Kane saw England come from a goal down at Wembley to secure the win.
The last meeting was in June 2021 at the Euros when Raheem Sterling scored the only goal of the game midway through the second half as both sides went on to qualify from Group D.
Head-to-head record:
- England wins: 6
- Croatia wins: 3
- Draws: 2
England v Croatia: Predict the score
16:55 , Luke BakerHow will England get on tonight in their crucial World Cup opener? You can have your say below
Saka's fitness 'gamble'
16:46 , Luke BakerBukayo Saka will continue to “take the gamble” on his fitness to be involved in England’s World Cup campaign.
The Arsenal winger has been managing an Achilles injury that dogged the end of his domestic campaign, playing through the pain barrier, and Thomas Tuchel said during the pre-tournament camp in Florida that he does not think he can yet play 90 minutes.
“As players, it’s the biggest gamble, especially if you’re not feeling your sharpest,” he said. “You have the choice whether you don’t play or you put yourself out there knowing people are going to judge you the same.
“At the end of the day, people don’t really care how you’re feeling, they expect you to deliver, they expect you to perform. I’m happy to take the gamble. It paid off, I’d say. I’m going to continue doing that.
“But I am feeling a lot better than I did in March, and I’m ready to go. I don’t want to say anything that goes against the manager, but between Mikel and Arsenal’s medical team and England’s medical team, since March, they have managed me amazingly and helped me get back on the pitch and do what I can for the team.
“I am feeling better than I have felt for the last few months. I am ready to go.”
Will Saka start this evening?
WATCH: England fans take over Dallas pub ahead of World Cup opener
16:37 , Luke BakerEngland fans have been making themselves known in Dallas...
How the World Cup’s great survivor Luka Modric and Croatia could torment England again
16:29 , Luke BakerLuka Modric tends to swap shirts with an opponent after every international. It means he must need a very large wardrobe or plenty of frames. He will soon have a double century of shirts.
There was, Modric said in his autobiography, only one Croatia game where he was determined not to trade the checkered kit with a member of the opposition team: against France, in 2018.
Croatia lost, but even getting there was an extraordinary achievement. Their population remains below four million, less than 0.05 per cent of the world’s. But Modric took them to the 2018 World Cup final. He won the World Cup’s Golden Ball and then the Ballon d’Or, to follow his third consecutive Champions League with Real Madrid.
Richard Jolly writes about Croatia’s ageless wonder:
How the World Cup’s great survivor Modric and Croatia could torment England again
'Focus on what we can influence'
16:20 , Miguel Delaney in DallasIn the final hours before England’s opening World Cup match, Thomas Tuchel hasn’t felt the need for any extra rousing speech about what the competition is. The manager senses the right mood among the squad as it is.
“They know,” Tuchel says. “We all know, and I think you have to grow into a tournament. At the moment, I don’t feel that any emotional fuel is needed to make everyone clear what is happening. But at the moment I see it even as an advantage that we’re focused on what we can actually influence. We don’t put it in the bigger picture - just put it where it is. We know,” he repeated.
Some of the players certainly know the challenge of Croatia. They’re all well aware of Luka Modric’s quality, of course, especially since he’s been central to three of four meetings between the sides since 2018.
How England plot to avenge years of heartbreak by Croatia in crucial World Cup opener
Predicted XIs
16:10 , Alan SmithEngland XI: Pickford; James, Konsa, Guehi, O’Reilly; Anderson, Rice; Saka, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane
Croatia XI: Livakovic; Sutalo, Vuskovic, Gvardiol; Stanisic, Modric, Kovacic, Perisic; Sucic, Baturina; Musa
Early team news
16:00 , Alan SmithBukayo Saka is touch and go to prove his fitness to start, with Noni Madueke ready to deputise on the right. Trevoh Chalobah will not be involved after replacing the injured Tino Livramento but will be available for their next outing. All other squad members are fit - will Tuchel pick Bellingham or Morgan Rodgers in the No 10 and who out of Guehi, Stones and Konsa starts at centre back?
As it stands, Croatia boss Zlatko Dalic has a full bill of health, with all 26 players available for their opening game, including Manchester City duo Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic, who have endured injury-impacted seasons.
Tuchel calls for bravery
15:55 , Miguel Delaney in DallasThomas Tuchel has promised that England will be “brave” in this World Cup, and that a big “occasion” like that against Croatia “will bring out the best in us”.
England finally open their tournament in Dallas’ AT&T Stadium on Wednesday, although the German insisted that it is not yet big enough for him to sing the national anthem.
He did instead discuss how much he sees the country as “home”, as he aims to bring back a first trophy in 60 years.
Tuchel believes the key to that will be an adventurous approach that the squad are already used to.
He said: “I think we should play brave and play to the strengths of the players. I feel clearly that the players want it and that it helps us, and that they are successful in club football like this, they compete in the strongest league, most of them, the others who are not in the league compete in the highest level in Europe and Champions League and they play in brave and active teams and that's what we try because it makes them comfortable.”
Tuchel says World Cup game against Croatia will ‘bring out best’ in ‘brave’ England
How to watch tonight's match
15:44 , Alan SmithViewers in the UK can watch the match free-to-air on ITV 1, ITV X, STV and STV Player with coverage starting at 8pm BST. It can also be live streamed on ITVX.
