Preview: England vs Croatia – latest news, line-ups, absences (17/06/2026)
Preview, team news, head-to-head, probable line-ups and where to watch England vs Croatia in Group L at the 2026 World Cup
England kick off their 2026 World Cup campaign on Wednesday night with a familiar and dangerous opponent, as Thomas Tuchel’s side are set to face Croatia at AT&T Stadium (Dallas Stadium) in Arlington.
It is a fixture loaded with recent history, from Croatia’s extra-time win in the 2018 World Cup semi-final to England’s narrow victory four years later at Euro 2020.
The match is scheduled to kick off at 21:00 BST and could immediately shape Group L, which also includes Ghana and Panama. England may be the favourites to top the group, but Croatia have made a habit of complicating major tournaments for more heavily fancied teams.
Latest news: absences, form, team news
England arrive with one of the strongest squads in the tournament, though Tuchel has made some bold selection calls. Players such as Phil Foden and Cole Palmer are not in the squad, leaving Jude Bellingham, Morgan Rogers and others competing for creative roles behind Harry Kane.
Croatia remain led by a 40-year-old Luka Modrić, who is expected to be playing in his final World Cup. Zlatko Dalić’s side may not have the same aura as the 2018 finalists, but they still possess experience, technical quality and enough midfield prowess to frustrate England.
England
Tuchel’s main decisions appear to be in defence and attacking midfield. Jordan Pickford is expected to start in goal, while Reece James, John Stones, Marc Guéhi and Nico O’Reilly are strong candidates to form the back four in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Declan Rice should anchor midfield, with Elliot Anderson pushing for a start alongside Bellingham. In attack, Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford or Anthony Gordon are likely options either side of Kane.
Croatia
Croatia’s structure is still built around Modrić and Mateo Kovačić, while Joško Gvardiol is the defensive leader, with Dominik Livaković expected to start in goal.
Dalić must decide how bold to be in attack. Andrej Kramarić offers experience and intelligence, while Ante Budimir gives Croatia a more direct penalty-box poacher presence.
Teams H2H: Head-to-head stats
England and Croatia have met in several high-profile encounters in recent times. Apart from a 5-1 England win in 2009, more recent encounters have been decided by a maximum of one goal. The most famous meeting has to be the World Cup semi-final in 2018 where, after England went one goal ahead early on through a Kieran Trippier free-kick, Croatia turned the game around to reach the final.
Previous meetings:
- 13/06/2021: England 1-0 Croatia (UEFA Euro 2020)
- 18/11/2018: England 2-1 Croatia (UEFA Nations League)
- 12/10/2018: Croatia 0-0 England (UEFA Nations League)
- 11/07/2018: Croatia 2-1 England AET (FIFA World Cup)
- 09/09/2009: England 5-1 Croatia (World Cup qualifying)
Predicted line-ups
England’s line-up on Wednesday will likely tell us who Thomas Tuchel regards as his best eleven, given that Croatia are the toughest opponents of the group. Elliot Anderson appears to be a favourite of the German to sit beside Declan Rice in midfield, while Jude Bellingham is expected to start behind Harry Kane despite competition from Morgan Rogers. The left wing position remains up in the air, with Anthony Gordon starting in recent friendlies, although Marcus Rashford could be preferred in the opening game.
Tactical analysis: Can England stop Croatia slowing the game down?
England’s biggest task will be preventing Croatia from turning the match into a controlled, low-tempo midfield battle, as Modrić and Kovačić remain excellent at protecting the ball, drawing pressure and taking the sting out of matches.
Tuchel will want England to press with intensity, especially when Croatia build through central areas. Rice and Anderson could be important in stopping Modrić from receiving too freely and dictating the tempo in the middle third, while Bellingham’s timing between midfield and attack may be one of England’s best weapons.
Meanwhile, England should have the greater threat in wide areas. Saka against Croatia’s left side could be a key route to chances, while Rashford’s direct running may test Croatia’s defensive recovery speed.
Croatia need to stay compact, frustrate England, slow the rhythm and use set-pieces or transitions to create pressure. The Three Lions have more firepower, but this is not a match they can expect to control without patience.
Key players to watch
Harry Kane (England)
Kane remains England’s reference point and most reliable finisher, widely considered one of the finest strikers in the world. His movement between the lines, link play and penalty-box instincts will be central to England’s attacking plan.
The Bayern Munich man scoring just one goal won’t bring you much value, but backing the striker to net a hat-trick would be a bold prediction that would earn you over 60/1 – something not out of the question for a player of his ability.
Luka Modrić (Croatia)
Even at 40, Modrić remains Croatia’s heartbeat. England cannot allow him to dictate the pace of the game, especially if Croatia settle into possession. He will have his work cut out for him energy wise against Rice and Anderson, which could cause him to make some tactical fouls, so backing a yellow card for the veteran could be the pick here.
Where to watch England vs Croatia in the UK and Ireland
England vs Croatia kicks off at 21:00 BST on Wednesday, 17 June 2026 at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas. In the United Kingdom, the match will be shown live on ITV1, STV, ITVX and STV Player.
In the Republic of Ireland, the match will be available through RTÉ’s World Cup coverage and RTÉ Player.
Market insights and probability predictions
The odds place England as favourites, but the market does not view this as a routine opener, where they could cruise past their opponents. Current prices imply roughly a 55% to 58% chance of an England win, with Croatia around 18% to 21% and the draw close to 25%. The goals market points towards a tight game, with under 2.5 goals slightly favoured.
England should have enough quality to begin with a win, but Croatia are unlikely to make it easy. Tuchel’s side may need patience, especially if Croatia succeed in controlling possession for long spells.
