England vs. Croatia: Head-to-head record and past meetings | World Cup 2026

The nations of England and Croatia volition basal inactive astatine 9pm UK clip connected Wednesday evening, erstwhile fans volition beryllium fixed to TV screens to ticker the countries' World Cup 2026 Group L opener.

Champions League-winning manager Thomas Tuchel volition officially statesman his quest to extremity 60 years of torture connected the elder men's circuit, aft the Three Lions came truthful adjacent yet truthful acold to large tourney glory nether Gareth Southgate.

The aforesaid goes for perpetual over-achievers Croatia, who person reached the semi-finals of the World Cup astatine the past 2 editions, acknowledgment successful nary tiny portion to a historical occurrence successful this peculiar fixture.

Here, Sports Mole takes an in-depth look astatine the head-to-head grounds and erstwhile meetings betwixt the 2 sides.

Head-to-head record

Previous meetings: 11

England wins: 6

Draws: 2

Croatia wins: 3

Frequent foes successful some large tournaments and the preliminary stages of specified competitions, England and Croatia volition beryllium doing conflict for the 12th clip successful the elder men's crippled during the 2026 World Cup.

The Three Lions clasp the humanities borderline implicit their Chequered counterparts, having managed six wins compared to conscionable 3 for Croatia, though those of those successes for the second were arguably the astir significant.

A small nether 8 years ago, England's dreams of reaching a archetypal World Cup last since 1966 were devastatingly dashed by Zlatko Dalic's side, arsenic Mario Mandzukic and Ivan Perisic cancelled retired a Kieran Trippier escaped footwear successful a 2-1 semi-final win.

England supporters had already been forced to witnesser 1 heartbreaking decision to Croatia, who denied the Three Lions a spot astatine Euro 2008 courtesy of a 3-2 triumph astatine Wembley, a fixture Scott Carson cannot banish to the backmost of his caput rapidly enough.

However, much caller meetings person tended to spell successful England's favour, arsenic the Three Lions person won 2 and drawn 1 of their past 3 head-to-heads, including a 1-0 Euro 2020 triumph acknowledgment to a Raheem Sterling strike.

Gareth Southgate besides oversaw a triumph and a gully against the Chequered Ones during the 2018 Nations League, frankincense earning England an contiguous portion of revenge pursuing their World Cup dismay.

Those of an Arsenal persuasion volition besides retrieve Theo Walcott's hat-trick for England successful a 4-1 World Cup Qualifying triumph successful 2008, 1 twelvemonth earlier Fabio Capello's men roared to a 5-1 triumph astatine Wembley.

Frank Lampard netted doubly that time and is the starring scorer successful this peculiar conflict with 5 goals, 1 of which besides came successful England's 4-2 Euro 2004 occurrence implicit the Chequered Ones.

Last 11 meetings

Jun 13, 2021: England 1-0 Croatia (European Championship)

Nov 18, 2018: England 2-1 Croatia (Nations League)

Oct 12, 2018: Croatia 0-0 England (Nations League)

Jul 11, 2018: Croatia 2-1 England (World Cup)

Sep 09, 2009: England 5-1 Croatia (World Cup Qualifying)

Sep 10, 2008: Croatia 1-4 England (World Cup Qualifying)

Nov 21, 2007: England 2-3 Croatia (Euros Qualifying)

Oct 11, 2006: Croatia 2-0 England (Euros Qualifying)

Jun 21, 2004: Croatia 2-4 England (European Championships)

Aug 20, 2003: England 3-1 Croatia (Friendly)

Apr 24, 1996: England 0-0 Croatia (Friendly)

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