England finally begin their World Cup campaign tonight. The Three Lions head from their Kansas City base to Dallas as they kick off Group L against very familiar opponents at the home of the Cowboys. It is a tough opening fixture for Thomas Tuchel’s side, who warmed up for the tournament with wins over Costa Rica and New Zealand. Croatia are one of England’s biggest rivals of the 21st century, defeating them in extra time of the 2018 semi-finals - 10 years after denying them a spot at Euro 2008.
England vs Croatia latest news
Kick-off time: 9pm BST, Dallas Stadium
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The wait is finally over and here we go again as England open another World Cup campaign tonight. The Three Lions are hoping to end 60 years of hurt in North America this summer, putting their faith in Thomas Tuchel to finally emulate the heroes of 1966. But they have been handed a tough start in an otherwise favourable-looking Group L as they once again take on familiar foes Croatia, one of their biggest rivals of this century who famously beat them in extra time of the 2018 semi-finals in Moscow - a decade after wrecking their hopes of qualifying at all for Euro 2008.
This is their first meeting since 2021, when Raheem Sterling's second-half goal at Wembley secured a 1-0 victory in their opening fixture of the delayed Euro 2020 finals. Croatia are approaching the end of a golden generation still marshalled brilliantly by the now 40-year-old Luka Modric, but remain dangerous World Cup specialists who also finished third in Qatar four years ago.
Kick-off this evening is at 9pm BST, so stay with us for all your match build-up, breaking team news and minute-by-minute game updates, with expert insight and analysis from Standard Sport's England correspondent Dom Smith at Dallas Stadium.
England exacted revenge in their opening game of Euro 2020, but know they are in for another difficult test against Zlatko Dalic’s men, World Cup specialists who continually punch well above their weight and also finished third in Qatar four years ago. Croatia are looking to make one last run with most of a golden generation led by the 40-year-old Luka Modric.
Jude Bellingham is expected to start over Morgan Rogers at No10 for England in a huge call from Tuchel, with Bukayo Saka potentially on the bench. Follow England vs Croatia live below, with expert analysis from Standard Sport’s Dom Smith at Dallas Stadium.
