England and Croatia are set to face off in a Group L match at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, as part of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. England, led by manager Thomas Tuchel and star player Harry Kane, enters the match as one of the teams to beat, having cruised through European qualifying with a perfect record.
Recent History
Croatia, ranked 11th in the world, has a strong recent tournament record, having reached the 2018 World Cup final and finishing third in 2022. The team is led by coach Zlatko Dalic and features experienced players such as Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic, and Ivan Perisic.
The matchup carries recent World Cup history, as Croatia knocked out England in the 2018 World Cup semifinals, winning 2-1 in extra time in Moscow. England later beat Croatia 1-0 at Wembley to open Euro 2020, but the 2018 semifinal defeat still gives the matchup added weight.
Expect a battle between England’s attacking talent and pressing intensity versus Croatia’s strong defense and midfield control through Modric. Key questions include the fitness and starting role of England’s Bukayo Saka, and whether England can convert early dominance into goals against a team that is great at absorbing pressure and striking on the break.
Original reporting: The Dallas Express — read the source article.
