Harry Kane scored twice and England survived a chaotic first-half collapse to beat Croatia 4-2 in their Group L opener at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. It was the kind of win that will breed confidence and mild anxiety in equal measure: commanding in phases, rattled in others, and ultimately settled by a Jude Bellingham goal two minutes into the second half that proved the hinge on which the entire evening turned.
England had looked in complete control when Kane converted from the spot in the 12th minute, his penalty taken with the unhurried certainty of a man who has scored them at every level. Thomas Tuchel's side moved the ball with real purpose, completed 402 of 469 passes at 86 per cent, and generated 19 of their 21 shots from inside the box. That number tells you everything about the directness of the approach: England had no interest in shooting from distance when they could work themselves closer. The xG at full time read 2.82 for England against Croatia's 0.53. On those measures, this was a rout. The scoreline, though, went through some alarming shapes before it eventually reached 4-2.
Martin Baturina equalised on 36 minutes, converting a chance supplied by Petar Sučić. Croatia were level on terms, if not on territory. Declan Rice's assist sent Kane through for 2-1 six minutes later, a well-worked move that seemed to settle things before the interval. Then Petar Musa, set up by Ivan Perišić, levelled again deep in first-half stoppage time. Two leads surrendered in the space of nine first-half minutes. England had allowed two goals from Croatia's five shots on target, a conversion rate that owed more to the hosts' defensive slackness than to any particular brilliance from Zlatko Dalic's side.
Dominik Livaković had played his part at the other end. Seven saves over the course of the evening kept Croatia competitive on the scoreboard rather longer than their territory or chances warranted. His performance was, in context, the best of any Croatian player on the night. That England still required seven saves from an opposing goalkeeper to win a game in which they created chances worth 2.82 expected goals is, perhaps, the most instructive number in the data.
The second half lasted less than two minutes before England retook the lead. Elliot Anderson, excellent throughout and the pick of the midfield, supplied Bellingham, who finished for 3-2. After that, Croatia never seriously threatened a second comeback. Their corner count for the entire match was one. England worked eight, maintained 52 per cent possession, and gradually wore down a side that had arrived with spirit and organisation but without the firepower to sustain a fight once they fell behind for a third time.
Luka Modrić was withdrawn at 58 minutes, having been unable to alter the match's momentum. He touched the ball with his customary elegance but the game moved too fast around him. Whether the tournament has more to offer him at 40 remains to be seen.
Marcus Rashford sealed it on 85 minutes. Bukayo Saka, introduced from the bench, provided the assist and the substitute did the rest for 4-2. There was no response from Croatia. England were not flawless, and allowing two equalisers before half-time is the kind of looseness that more clinical opponents will punish in the knockout rounds. But the second-half answer was immediate, Bellingham decisive, and Kane, with two goals from two chances, the clearest marker of where England's quality lies.