England and Croatia walk into AT&T Stadium on Wednesday with history pulling them in opposite directions. For England, the memory of 2018 still stings. That semifinal loss in Moscow — 1-1 after extra time, then Mario Mandzukic in the 109th minute — sent Croatia to the final while England went home wondering what if. Now they meet again in Arlington, Texas, for the opening match of Group D in the 2026 World Cup.
Kickoff is set for 9 PM BST, which means afternoon heat in Texas. The AC inside the dome should help, but the intensity won’t cool down. These two teams know each other well. Eleven previous meetings, with England winning six, Croatia taking three, and two draws. England hasn’t lost to Croatia since 2007. Their last three matches include a 1-0 win at Euro 2020 and a 3-1 Nations League victory. The head-to-head numbers lean English, but Croatia’s tournament pedigree — runners-up in 2018, third in 2022 — means nobody’s taking them lightly.
England Arrives with Momentum and a Full Squad
Thomas Tuchel’s squad has been rolling. Sixteen wins in their last 21 internationals, a qualifying campaign that included 5-0 blowouts of Latvia and Serbia. Recent friendlies brought wins over New Zealand and Costa Rica, though a 1-0 loss to Japan and a draw with Uruguay showed they’re not invincible. The good news for England: almost everyone is healthy. Only Trevoh Chalobah and Tino Livramento are out. That means Jude Bellingham, fresh off a strong warm-up run, slots in behind Harry Kane. The expected lineup has Pickford in goal, a back four of James, Konsa, Stones, and O’Reilly, with Rice and Anderson in midfield and Bellingham, Gordon, and Saka supporting Kane up top.
Kane needs one goal to become England’s all-time leading scorer in World Cups. He’s got 9 now. Gary Lineker holds the record at 10. That feels like the kind of milestone that happens Wednesday night.
Croatia Brings Experience but Mixed Form
Croatia qualified strong. They beat Montenegro and the Czech Republic convincingly. But their recent friendlies tell a different story. Wins over Slovenia and some smaller sides, yes, but losses to Belgium and Brazil exposed cracks. Luka Modric is still pulling strings at 40 years old. That’s remarkable and also a little worrying for Croatia fans who wonder how much he has left at this level. The backline features Gvardiol anchoring a three-man defense, with Livakovic in goal. Budimir leads the line, and Perisic still patrols the left flank. Zlatko Dalic has a fully fit squad to choose from. That helps.
What the Numbers Say
England’s recent defensive record stands out. They’ve kept clean sheets in roughly half their matches over the past 18 months. Croatia’s attack has been solid but not explosive — they scored more than two goals only once in their last six friendlies. The last four meetings between these sides averaged 1.75 goals per game. That suggests a tight, tactical affair. Not a track meet.
Betting markets lean toward England. A win for the Three Lions sits as the most likely outcome. Some action on “under 2.5 total goals” makes sense given the history. England to lead at halftime is another popular pick. For corners, England should control possession and generate more chances, so them winning the corner count looks reasonable.
Where to Watch
In the UK, the match airs on ITV 1, ITV X, STV, and UTV. Streaming is available on BBC Radio 5 Live and STV Player. For American viewers, check Fox Sports. The referee is French official Clement Turpin.
Wednesday’s match kicks off at 9 PM BST, 4 PM Eastern, 3 PM Central at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The winner takes early control of Group D. The loser faces a tougher path. England wants to rewrite 2018. Croatia wants to show they’re not done yet. This one should answer some questions right away.
Leave a Comment