England's World Cup journey is set to commence with a challenging fixture against Croatia in Dallas, a match that has already seen the opposition express significant respect for Three Lions captain Harry Kane. Croatian defender Duje Caleta-Car lauded the prolific striker as a "master of the game," highlighting his exceptional movement and positioning on the pitch.
Kane arrives at the tournament following an outstanding season with Bayern Munich, where he netted an impressive 66 goals in 56 appearances, contributing to their Bundesliga title and German Cup victory. This formidable form appears to have seamlessly transitioned into the international arena, as he secured England's solitary goal in their recent 1-0 friendly win over New Zealand.
The upcoming encounter holds particular significance, being a rematch of the memorable 2018 World Cup semi-final, which Croatia famously won. Despite previous heartbreaks in international tournaments, including two successive Euros finals losses and defeats in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, Kane remains a pivotal figure for England, holding the all-time record for goals with 79 in 113 games.
Caleta-Car, a former Southampton defender, reflected on Kane's impact during their European Championship match, stating, "Kane impressed me in our match against England at the European Championship, even though he didn’t score. His movement and positioning – you can clearly see he’s a master of the game and knows exactly what he’s doing.” England emerged victorious in that Wembley encounter with a 1-0 scoreline.
Croatia, who secured third place at the subsequent World Cup, are anticipating a tough challenge in Texas. Caleta-Car emphasised the importance of executing their preparations on the pitch: “The most important thing is that we translate everything we’ve worked on during our preparations onto the pitch and try to execute all of the coach’s ideas. The team is ready, and we’re facing a difficult match. We must not give them too much space because they have quality individuals who can decide a game with a single move. But we’re ready and looking forward to the first match.”
This opening fixture will be a crucial test for Gareth Southgate's squad as they aim to build momentum in their pursuit of World Cup glory.