Preview: England vs Croatia – Latest News, Predicted Line-ups, Absentees | 2026 World Cup (06/17/2026)

Preview, team news, head-to-head and probable line-ups 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

Position	–England	–Croatia
Goalkeeper	Jordan Pickford	Dominik Livaković
Defenders	Reece James John Stones Marc Guéhi Nico O’Reilly	Josip Šutalo Luka Vušković Joško Gvardiol
Midfielders	Declan Rice Elliot Anderson Jude Bellingham	Josip Stanišić Luka Modrić Mateo Kovačić Ivan Perišić
Forwards	Bukayo Saka Harry Kane Marcus Rashford	Luka Sučić Ante Budimir Martin Baturina

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.

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.

Market insights and probability predictions

England are favourites, but the market does not view this as a routine opener, where they could cruise past their opponents. The current betting market odds 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.

At BetBrothers, you can now check out our predictions to find the best betting opportunities for every match. So get ready to place your 2026 FIFA World Cup football bets with confidence.