England launched their World Cup campaign with a dramatic 4-2 victory over Croatia on Wednesday, a match defined by Harry Kane's first-half double and a half-time reset ordered by manager Thomas Tuchel. The Three Lions had been pegged back to 2-2 at the interval after strikes from Martin Baturina and Petar Musa wiped out Kane's early contributions, but a fiery message from Tuchel sparked a second-half surge that put the group-stage favorites back in control.
Kane's brace came in the opening 45 minutes, the second a powerful header that showcased his aerial prowess, before Jude Bellingham scored the go-ahead goal early in the second half. Nico O'Reilly added a fourth, and Bellingham and other attackers created several more chances as England's relentless pressure overwhelmed Croatia's defense. Kane, appearing in his third World Cup as captain, was the first to celebrate Bellingham's tiebreaker, signaling the team's renewed belief after the interval.
The win gives England three valuable points in Group L, a group that also includes Portugal and DR Congo. With Portugal stumbling to a 1-1 draw against DR Congo later on Wednesday, England now holds the early lead in the group, putting them in a strong position to secure a spot in the knockout rounds. The result also extends England's recent strong form under Tuchel, who took over late last year.
England will next face Qatar on Sunday as they seek to build on their opening momentum. Croatia, meanwhile, may need to regroup quickly to avoid an early exit. Tuchel will be encouraged by his side's ability to respond to adversity, but the defensive lapses that allowed Croatia back into the first half will need addressing before tougher tests ahead.
"The manager's message at half-time woke us up. We knew we had more to give," Kane told reporters after the match, reflecting on Tuchel's tactical adjustments and motivational push that turned the tide.