England vs Croatia: World Cup 2026 prediction, kick-off time, TV, live stream, team news, h2h results, odds

He must also choose two from Marc Guehi, John Stones and Ezri Konsa to line up at centre-back.

Selection battle: Either Jude Bellingham or Morgan Rogers will start at No10 for England against Croatia

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Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson, James Trafford

Defenders: Reece James, Tino Livramento, Marc Guehi, Ezri Konsa, John Stones, Jarell Quansah, Nico O’Reilly, Dan Burn, Djed Spence

Midfielder: Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham, Jordan Henderson, Morgan Rogers, Kobbie Mainoo, Eberechi Eze

Forwards: Harry Kane, Ivan Toney, Ollie Watkins, Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Gordon

Croatia boast a huge amount of experience in the likes of 40-year-old captain Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic and Ivan Perisic, plus other Premier League stars such as Josko Gvardiol and Tottenham’s highly-rated teenage defender Luka Vuskovic.

Head coach Zlatko Dalic has a decision to make up front, where Petar Musa – who plays his club football in Major League Soccer (MLS) with FC Dallas – is potentially in line to start ahead of 116-cap former Leicester man Andrej Kramaric.

Legend: Luka Modric, 40, will be making his World Cup swansong in North America this summer

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Goalkeepers: Dominik Livakovic, Dominik Kotarski, Ivor Pandur

Defenders: Josko Gvardiol, Duje Caleta-Car, Josip Sutalo, Josip Stanisic, Marin Pongracic, Martin Erlic, Luka Vuskovic

Midfielders: Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic, Mario Pasalic, Nikola Vlasic, Luka Sucic, Martin Baturina, Kristijan Jakic, Petar Sucic, Nikola Moro, Toni Fruk

Forwards: Ivan Perisic, Andrej Kramaric, Ante Budimir, Marco Pasalic, Petar Musa, Igor Matanovic

England vs Croatia prediction

For the second time in the last three major tournaments, England open their campaign against Croatia – one of their biggest rivals of the 21st century so far.

Memories of Mario Mandzukic’s extra-time winner in Moscow to deny them a first World Cup final berth since 1966 will inevitably come flooding back, as will visions of Steve McClaren standing on the touchline under that umbrella in the Wembley rain after Scott Carson’s blunder saw them miss out on Euro 2008 entirely.

Croatia remain a seriously dangerous World Cup proposition, also finishing third in Qatar four years ago, though notably fell in the group stage at Euro 2024.

England’s opening win at Euro 2020 will have gone some way to clearing any mental hurdles that may still linger around this fixture.

It won’t be pretty, as England’s tournament openers typically aren’t, but we’re backing them to shade a tight and tense contest thanks to a likely Harry Kane winner.

Head to head (h2h) history and results

England vs Croatia match odds

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