England vs Croatia - prediction, team news, lineups | World Cup 2026

If it yet comes location for England, it volition travel location from the different broadside of the planet, arsenic Thomas Tuchel's men footwear disconnected their World Cup 2026 Group L escapade against Croatia astatine the AT&T Stadium successful Arlington.

The Three Lions' archetypal foes successful North America person besides been sporting the bridesmaid's formal astatine caller large tournaments, albeit portion inactive making it onto the podium against the odds.

Match preview

England's past shot World Cup triumph did not travel successful 1966. The Under-17s and Under-20s some conquered the globe successful the summertime of 2017, but lone senior-level occurrence volition belatedly extremity 60 years of torturous torment.

If the Mundial trophy was awarded connected Qualifying signifier alone, England would already beryllium making parade plans, having go the archetypal UEFA federation to publication their spot astatine the 2026 lawsuit courtesy of a cleanable 8 wins and 8 cleanable sheets successful the preliminary phase.

However, the cracks began to look successful Thomas Tuchel's program erstwhile England failed to bushed some Uruguay and Japan successful March friendlies - suffering their first-ever nonaccomplishment to an Asian broadside against the second - and Harry Kane bailing his federation retired of occupation against New Zealand did small to thrust assurance backmost up either.

A much recognisable starting XI dispatched Costa Rica with easiness successful England's last warm-up fixture, though, and the Three Lions person lone mislaid 1 of their past 8 World Cup openers; a 2-1 reverse to Italy successful 2014.

The 1966 champions person conversely managed 4 victories and 3 stalemates successful that sequence, winning each of their past 2 maiden Mundial matches against Tunisia and Iran, but World Cup past does not favour the men successful white.

While not among the main contenders for planetary glory successful our World Cup betting guide, Croatia's large contention gravitas speaks for itself, having collected medals astatine the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, arsenic good arsenic the 2022-23 Nations League.

However, Zlatko Dalic's broadside person much than 1 constituent to beryllium aft an abysmal showing astatine Euro 2024, during which they crashed retired successful the radical signifier without a azygous triumph to their name; their worst large tourney show since the 2006 World Cup.

The halfway of the Chequered Ones' World Cup luminaries whitethorn present beryllium ageing, but they astir matched England successful presumption of impeccable qualification form, dropping conscionable 2 points successful 8 games to comfortably apical Group L.

Dalic's men did not flourish successful each pre-tournament affable either, though, arsenic losses to Brazil and Belgium preceded a constrictive 2-1 triumph implicit Slovenia, courtesy of a 90th-minute Mario Pasalic strike.

Then again, a precocious extremity gave Croatia arguably the astir joyous evening successful their footballing history, arsenic Mario Mandzukic's 109th-minute semi-final victor successful 2018 sent the Chequered Ones to the title lucifer astatine England's expense.

England signifier (all competitions):

Croatia signifier (all competitions):

Team News

While Tuchel is not moving with immoderate terrible concerns up of crippled one, a large question people is hanging implicit the caput of Arsenal helping wizard Bukayo Saka, who is reportedly struggling to beryllium his fittingness successful time.

Gunners teammate Noni Madueke could truthful beryllium fixed the motion connected the right-hand broadside of England's attack, which is besides expected to diagnostic aboriginal Barcelona winger Anthony Gordon astatine the disbursal of erstwhile Blaugrana winger Marcus Rashford.

Tuchel is besides expected to broadside with Jude Bellingham implicit Morgan Rogers successful the fig 10 slot, but it is anybody's conjecture arsenic to whether Ezri Konsa, John Stones and/or Marc Guehi shield Jordan Pickford.

Meanwhile, Croatia get successful Arlington with each of their options available, including the evergreen Luka Modric and Ivan Perisic, who amassed 26 goals and assists combined for PSV Eindhoven past season.

Hoffenheim fable Andrej Kramaric registered conscionable 3 less involvements successful 2025-26, but section reports person suggested that Dallas striker Petar Musa - who has 12 goals successful 13 MLS games successful 2026 - could beryllium fixed the motion successful the fig 9 relation instead.

Subject of a failed £30m bid from Brighton & Hove Albion, Tottenham Hotspur starlet Luka Vuskovic volition comprise portion of a backmost 3 with Josko Gvardiol - inactive the astir costly defender of each time.

England imaginable starting lineup:

Pickford; James, Stones, Konsa, O'Reilly; Anderson, Rice; Madueke, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane

Croatia imaginable starting lineup:

Livakovic; Sutalo, Vuskovic, Gvardiol; Stanisic, Modric, Kovacic, Perisic; Sucic, Baturina; Musa

We say: England 2-1 Croatia

While the astir celebrated effect successful this head-to-head went Croatia's way, England person since gone unbeaten successful 3 against the Chequered Ones, who travel into the World Cup with a dissatisfactory antiaircraft record.

Dalic's men person conceded successful each of their past six matches - shipping 10 goals successful full - truthful adjacent though it whitethorn not beryllium pretty, an opening Three Lions triumph is surely connected the cards.

For information investigation of the astir apt results, scorelines and much for this lucifer delight click here.