​Tessa Lee, Sports journalist reporting on global leagues since 2021.​

England vs Croatia produced one of the most entertaining matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage as Harry Kane scored twice to equal Gary Lineker’s England World Cup scoring record in a thrilling 4 to 2 victory in Dallas. In front of a crowd of 70,389, Thomas Tuchel’s side overcame two Croatian fightbacks to begin their Group L campaign with three valuable points and strengthen their credentials as tournament contenders.

The result marked England’s first win against a team ranked inside FIFA’s top 20 under Tuchel and provided an early statement in their quest for a first World Cup title since 1966.

Kane reaches historic milestone

Harry Kane entered the tournament following another prolific season with Bayern Munich and wasted little time making his mark.

The England captain opened the scoring in the 12th minute from the penalty spot, although not without controversy. His initial effort was saved by Dominik Livakovic, but the Croatian goalkeeper was judged to have moved off his line before the kick was taken.

Following a VAR review, the penalty was retaken and Kane converted at the second attempt to give England an early lead.

Croatia responded through Martin Baturina, but Kane restored England’s advantage before halftime.

Meeting a precise corner from Declan Rice, the striker powered a header into the bottom corner to score his second goal of the match.

The brace took Kane to 10 World Cup goals for England, drawing level with Gary Lineker as the nation’s leading scorer in the competition’s history.

Croatia refuse to go away

Despite England's attacking quality, Croatia repeatedly found a way back into the contest.

Baturina's first half equaliser came after a well worked attacking move that exposed England's defence.

The 2018 World Cup finalists then struck again deep into first half stoppage time when Petar Musa capitalised on defensive uncertainty to make it 2 to 2.

Croatia's resilience ensured England could not relax, even after controlling large portions of the opening period.

The match remained open throughout, with both sides creating opportunities and exposing weaknesses at the back.

Bellingham and Rashford finish the job

England regained control almost immediately after the interval.

Jude Bellingham surged forward early in the second half and calmly finished to restore England's lead at 3 to 2.

The Real Madrid midfielder's goal shifted momentum decisively in England's favour and rewarded a lively performance in midfield.

England continued to create chances as Kane searched for a hat trick and several players came close to extending the advantage.

Croatia still threatened on the counterattack, but England eventually secured the result when Marcus Rashford found the net late in the match.

The substitute's goal sealed a 4 to 2 victory and ensured England started their World Cup campaign in impressive fashion.

Golden Boot race already taking shape

Kane's double also thrust him into the early Golden Boot conversation.

The striker won the award at the 2018 World Cup in Russia after scoring six goals during England's run to the semifinals. He added another two goals at the 2022 tournament in Qatar but endured disappointment after missing a crucial penalty against France in the quarterfinals.

Now level with Lineker's record, Kane has an opportunity not only to become England's outright World Cup scoring leader but also to challenge for a second Golden Boot.

If successful, he would become the first player to win the award twice.

Competition for the prize is already fierce, however, with Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland both scoring braces in their opening matches.

Positive start for Tuchel's England

The performance offered plenty of encouragement for England manager Thomas Tuchel.

While defensive lapses remain an area for improvement, England's attacking firepower was on full display.

Kane, Bellingham, Rashford, Rice, and several other attacking players combined effectively throughout the contest, creating numerous scoring opportunities.

Most importantly, England secured three points in what was widely viewed as one of the toughest fixtures in Group L.

With Croatia showing enough quality to remain a threat in the group, England's opening victory could prove crucial in determining the final standings.

For Kane, the night represented another landmark achievement in an already remarkable international career. With the tournament only just beginning, the England captain now has multiple records within reach and appears determined to add further chapters to his World Cup legacy.