England
England are expected to come out on top in this section however, Croatia wont make it easy being the second favourites in this group.
Under coach Thomas Tuchel, England won all 8 matches in their qualifying group, scoring 22 goals and conceding none.
This will be England’s 17th FIFA World Cup appearance.
Since 2018 England have won 8 of their 12 World Cup matches reaching the semi-final in 2018 and the quarter-final in 2022. Scoring 25 goals across their last two World Cup tournaments (2018 and 2022), highlighting their attacking strength on the biggest stage.
Croatia, are no soft touch. 2018 World Cup finalists have been consistent contenders on the biggest stage for the best part of a decade. They qualified with seven wins and one draw from eight games.
Croatia denied England a place in the 2018 World Cup final, winning 2-1 after extra time in Moscow.
England have lost more competitive matches against Croatia than against any other nation since 2000.
However, England beat Croatia 1-0 in the group stage of Euro 2020, showing they can overcome the Balkan side on the big stage.
Injuries & Team News
England have only one major injury concern heading into their World Cup opener against Croatia, with Bukayo Saka continuing to manage an Achilles issue. Thomas Tuchel has confirmed the Arsenal winger is available but may need careful management throughout the tournament.
The Three Lions otherwise appear close to full strength and arrive in Dallas in confident mood after consecutive clean-sheet victories over New Zealand and Costa Rica in their final warm-up fixtures.
Harry Kane enters another World Cup as England’s captain and all-time leading goalscorer needing just two more World Cup goals to equal Gary Lineker’s England record of 10. Can this year be it?
Form
| Last Match | Last 6 Matches |
|---|---|
| 3-0 vs Costa Rica |
W W D L W W |
Predicted Line-Up
England (4-2-3-1)
Jordan Pickford
Reece James – John Stones – Marc Guehi – Nico O’Reilly
Declan Rice – Elliot Anderson
Bukayo Saka – Jude Bellingham – Anthony Gordon
Harry Kane.
Croatia
While not among the chief contenders for global glory Croatia’s major competition gravitas speaks for itself, having collected medals at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, as well as the 2022-23 Nations League.
However, Zlatko Dalic’s side have more than one point to prove after an abysmal showing at Euro 2024, during which they crashed out in the group stage without a single win to their name; their worst big tournament performance since the 2006 World Cup.
The core of the Chequered Ones’ World Cup luminaries may now be ageing, but they almost matched England in terms of impeccable qualification form, dropping just two points in eight games to comfortably top Group L.
Dalic’s men did not flourish in every pre-tournament friendly either, though, as losses to Brazil and Belgium preceded a narrow 2-1 triumph over Slovenia, courtesy of a 90th-minute Mario Pasalic strike.
Then again, a late goal gave Croatia arguably the most joyous evening in their footballing history, as Mario Mandzukic’s 109th-minute semi-final winner in 2018 sent the Chequered Ones to the championship match at England’s expense.
Injuries & Team News
Croatia arrive in Dallas looking to build on a morale-boosting 2-1 victory over Slovenia in their final World Cup warm-up match.
Veteran captain Luka Modrić was on target once again, scoring his 29th international goal, while Mario Pašalić netted a dramatic late winner.
However, manager Zlatko Dalić has admitted concerns over the fitness of several key players, including Modrić, Mateo Kovačić and Joško Gvardiol.
The 2018 runners-up and 2022 third-place finishers remain one of the tournament’s most experienced sides and will fancy their chances of causing England problems in the Group L opener.
Form
| Last Match | Last 6 Matches |
|---|---|
| 2-1 vs Slovenia | W W W L L W |
Predicted Line-Up
Croatia (4-4-3)
Dominik Livaković
Josip Stanišić – Josip Šutalo – Joško Gvardiol – Marin Pongračić
Luka Modrić – Mateo Kovačić – Petar Sučić
Mario Pašalić – Andrej Kramarić – Ivan Perišić.
Betting Odds
| Team | Odds | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| England Win | 8/11 (1.73) | Grand Ivy |
| Draw | 14/5 (3.50) | Dream Vegas |
| Croatia Win | 4/1 (5.00) | 247Bet |
Prediction
England 1-1 Croatia
Many are talking up England at this world cup but Croatia have beaten England more than any other nation since 2000, it wont be easy and both sides might have to settle for a point each