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LIVE updates: England 4-2 Croatia - Rashford, Bellingham and two for Harry Kane in World Cup opener

England are taking on Croatia in their opening World Cup match with a rallying cry from the Prince of Wales ahead of kick-off.

17 Jun 2026, 15:36 | Updated: 17 Jun 2026

Kane celebrates putting England 2-1 up. Picture: getty

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By Asher McShane

@ashermcs

England's World Cup campagin is under way with their first group game against Croatia. Follow all the action here with LBC.

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Thomas Tuchel’s team kick off their campaign against Croatia with the hopes of a nation resting on their shoulders and captain Harry Kane believing this is one of their best opportunities to win a major tournament.

The Three Lions' first match will be against their 2018 nemesis Croatia at the Dallas Stadium later tonight, on the back of two warm-up game wins against New Zealand and Costa Rica.

Pub bookings have surged more than 300% for the match, while Tuchel has said that it is an "honour" to lead England but added he will not sing the national anthem.

Harry Kane gave England an early lead with a penalty. Picture: getty

Croatia boss Zlatko Dalic has praised England captain Kane ahead of tonight's game.

"They have the best striker in the world, they have Kane and Kane can do a hell of a lot," said Dalic ahead of tonight's match.

England's fans are in fine form ahead of the game, with hundreds of England fans ignoring police pleas to move on from a Dallas pub as they downed more than 5,000 beers ahead of the Three Lions’ World cup opener.

Follow all of the build-up and action in our blog

Full time

England 4-2 Croatia

Rashford fires home England's fourth of the night

Marcus Rashford scores his team's fourth goal

Fans in Bristol go wild...again

ENGLAND GOAL

England 4-2 Croatia

Marcus Rashford makes it 4-2. Bukayo Saka finds Rashford, who shifts the ball onto his right foot and slots it past the keeper

Substitutions

Jude Bellingham taken off - England’s goalscorer replaced by Djed Spence

Croatia's Martin Baturina also makes way for Nikola Vlasic.

Another drinks break

Jude Bellingham takes a drink during a hydration break

Pickford save

Pickford forced to make a strong save to deny an effort from Marco Pasalic

England substitutions

Off

Declan Rice

Anthony Gordon

Noni Madueke

Morgan Rogers

Marcus Rashford

Bukayo Saka

Substitution

Croatia’s midfielder Luka Modric makes way for Mateo Kovacic. Modric did not make any real impact on the game apart from giving away England’s penalty in the first half.