England vs Croatia: a 2018 semifinal rematch

Group L of the 2026 FIFA World Cup opens with England vs Croatia at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington. The two nations have met four times in the last eight years, a run that began with the 2018 World Cup semifinal won by Croatia. After losing the final to France that year, Croatia have failed to beat England in the last three duels.

Thomas Tuchel's England are genuine contenders for the crown and want a winning start. Performances under the German have generally been impressive, but Wednesday's game is the first major test of his 18-month tenure. Croatia consistently overperform at major tournaments, but there is uncertainty around the squad this time. Many of their star players are ageing, with only a few young talents shining through.

According to SI.com, a draw could suit both sides. In the new format, with eight third-placed teams also progressing, the risk for bigger nations has diminished. A draw on Wednesday, plus a win in one of the games against Panama and Ghana, would almost certainly be enough to advance. So both teams may avoid taking too many risks in the opener.

England have the stronger squad and are favourites, but Croatia's experience and work rate could thwart Tuchel's pragmatic side. Just seven places separate the two in the FIFA rankings, making this one of the most evenly balanced matches of the group stage.

For England, Tino Livramento has withdrawn through injury, replaced by Chelsea's Trevoh Chalobah. Harry Kane starts up front, with Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers competing for the No.10 role. For Croatia, Luka Modrić and Mateo Kovačić feature in midfield, with experienced Ivan Perišić out wide. Refereed by France's Clément Turpin, the match could be a low-scoring affair; SI.com predict 1-1.

Predicted XIs
England (4-2-3-1): Pickford; James, Stones, Guéhi, O'Reilly; Anderson, Rice; Madueke, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane
Croatia (3-4-3): Livaković; Šutalo, Vušković, Gvardiol; Stanišić, Modrić, Kovačić, Perišić; P. Sučić, Baturina; Musa

Source: SI.com
Image: SI.com