36.
22:36
Tooor for Croatia, 1:1 by Martin Baturina
A dream goal equalizes! Baturina initiates the scene himself with a chip to the right of the penalty area behind the chain. There, Sučić forgoes the possible shot, instead choosing the considered option and passing it again into the backcourt for Baturina. The 21-year-old doesn’t hesitate for long from 18 meters on the right and hits the ball into the top left of the net with his right instep.
34.
10:35 p.m
Pickford is there after a long ball to the left of his penalty area. Against Sučić he fakes the release and then actually wants to gain a few meters. However, the Everton keeper puts the ball in front of the ball.
31.
22:33
J. Bellingham (ENG) narrowly misses the cross
31.
22:32
The Three Lions win the ball just inside the opponent’s half and immediately move forward quickly. The ball travels to Madueke on the right wing using a quick, flat pass. Bellingham missed his sharp cross in the center by just a foot length.
28.
22:29
Although the dress rehearsal against Slovenia (2-1) was successful, Croatia’s preparation for the World Cup was not optimal. After all, the matches against Brazil (1:3) and Belgium (0:2) were lost. Even in the two defeats, Zlatko Dalić relied on the unusual five-man chain.
26.
10:25 p.m
Dominik Livaković takes a long goal kick and the ball rolls again. It remains to be seen whether the coaches were able to have a decisive influence on their players.
23.
22:22
Accompanied by light whistles, the obligatory drinking break of the first round begins. The traditionalists among the fans obviously don’t like the interruption.
21.
22:22
Jude Bellingham drives the ball into the box on the left. However, there he is alone in a wide area against several defenders. The ten-man Madrilenian tries dribbling, but puts the ball a little too far forward and the attentive Dominik Livaković is in between.
19.
10:20 p.m
With the lead behind them, the English now deliberately forego their own possession of the ball in order to wait for quick transition situations from a compact defense. However, Elliot Anderson gets stuck on the way forward after winning the ball in midfield.
16.
22:18
Noni Madueke comes into the penalty area at speed from the right half lane for the first time. There the 22-year-old looks for the shot from a tight angle and is blocked at the last moment.
14.
22:17
For Thomas Tuchel and his team, Harry Kane’s ninth World Cup goal is of course the perfect start to the tournament after an initial period of pressure from the Croatians. Luka Modrić, on the other hand, is likely to be tearing his hair out after his penalty penalty. But the reigning World Cup third place is trying to answer straight away.
12.
22:12
1:0 H. Kane (ENG) takes the lead with a penalty
12.
22:11
Great for England, 1-0 by Harry Kane
In the second attempt, Kane converted safely as usual! After his typical run-up and a deep breath, the FC Bayern striker aims for the bottom right corner with his right inner instep. This time Livaković chooses the other side and has to admit defeat.
10.
10:10 p.m
Off the line too early: Kane penalty is repeated
10.
22:09
Livaković saves the penalty! After a short delay, Kane aims for the bottom right corner and is denied by the Croatian goalkeeper. But the shooter complains immediately and after a short check by the VAR Right. Livaković no longer had one foot on the line. Therefore the penalty is retaken.
9.
22:09
L. Modrić (CRO) fouls in the penalty area
9.
22:08
Penalty for England! The subsequent Rice corner from the right side initially poses no danger. But Luka Modrić is a touch later to the ball than Noni Madueke when he makes his break. As a result, the veteran only hits the opponent and the penalty is rightly awarded.
8.
22:08
A blocked James cross from the right ends up with an arc lamp to Kane almost at the penalty spot. The nine-man controls the ball and finishes quickly from the turn. But the shot is deflected towards a corner.
7.
22:07
After a wild first few minutes, England now manages to let the ball run calmly through their own ranks and control the action somewhat.
5.
22:06
Luka Vušković doesn’t allow himself to be disturbed by the approaching Anthony Gordon on his own left side of the box, turns relaxed towards the sideline and hits the ball far behind the English defensive line. Petar Musa starts, but Jordan Pickford is careful and clears the situation well in front of his penalty area.
3.
22:03
Ivan Perišić brings the corner to the second post. Josip Šutalo is surprisingly free there, as almost everything is focused on the first post. However, the defender’s demanding volley failed and sailed well over the goal.
2.
22:02
The Croatians are at the forefront from the first second. This forces them to take an early first corner kick from the right side.
1.
22:01
Let’s go! England kicks off and plays completely in their usual white. Croatia holds its own in the blue away jerseys.
1.
10:00 p.m
Game start
9:53 p.m
Clément Turpin leads the two teams onto the pitch. The national anthems follow. Then nothing stands in the way of a hopefully great game in Dallas.
9:50 p.m
The two nations only met once at a World Cup. In the semi-final of the 2018 World Cup, England took a 1-0 lead thanks to an early free-kick from Trippier. However, Perišić equalized before Mandžukić completed Croatia’s celebrated 2-1 win in extra time.
9:47 p.m
Zlatko Dalić brings together several generations of players in his starting eleven. At the age of 39, Luka Modrić continues to be the thinker and leader of the team and has further great experience with Ivan Perišić, who is known from the Bundesliga, at his side. The team is supplemented by younger players who have long since proven their quality at the highest level. These include Luka Vušković, Josip Stanišić and of course Joško Gvardiol. The 2018 vice world champion is still well-known.
9:38 p.m
Croatia was one of the big surprises at the last World Cup and underlined its status as a top nation. In Russia 2018, the Croatians only failed in the final against France, and in Qatar in 2022 in the semi-finals against eventual world champions Argentina. The Balkan state’s ambitions are high this time too, even though the last European Championship ended in the group phase. However, in the World Cup qualification, Croatia demonstrated its quality again and won the group undefeated ahead of the Czech Republic.
9:24 p.m
When putting together the squad, Thomas Tuchel, as so often, did not shy away from making big decisions. For example, Cole Palmer and Phil Foden had to stay at home completely. Newly crowned Premier League winners like Eberechi Eze and Bukayo Saka initially find themselves on the bench at the start of the World Cup. To achieve this, the former Bayern coach is relying on exactly the same starting eleven that won the dress rehearsal against Costa Rica 3-0. Harry Kane will therefore be flanked by Noni Madueke and Anthony Gordon on offense.
9:17 p.m
The English have been waiting for the big success on the world stage for 60 years since winning the World Cup in 1966. This should now succeed with Thomas Tuchel, who took over the Three Lions at the beginning of 2025. Since the 52-year-old has been in charge, England have played 14 games, marched flawlessly through the World Cup qualification and only had to admit defeat in the friendly games against Senegal (1:3) and Japan (0:1). In terms of results, things are already going very well for the British. However, this was also achieved under predecessor Gareth Southgate. However, the last bit was always missing in the decisive games, which is why England ended up as European runners-up twice in a row. With Thomas Tuchel, who has a full collection of trophies at club level, he should now even win the World Cup straight away.
Hello and welcome to one of the highlights of the group phase – co-favorites England meet the third in the last title fights, Croatia, in Group L!