The stage is set for England's World Cup bid in Dallas on Wednesday night as they gear up to face a tricky Croatian side in their opening Group L match. The 9pm kick-off marks the start of a campaign that has all the makings of a thrilling ride, building on the momentum generated by successive European Championship finals appearances.
Under new manager Thomas Tuchel, England enter the competition as third favourites among bookies, and it's clear he'll be under intense scrutiny to deliver results. Tuchel's made his mark already with some tough calls – notably axing attacking talents Phil Foden and Cole Palmer from his squad in a bid to craft a winning formula.
This opening fixture against Croatia is far from an easy start for England, who'll also face Ghana and Panama in the group stage. Both opponents are expected to qualify, but this match offers a golden chance for England to assert their authority and set the tone for the tournament. On paper, it's a closely matched affair – England sit fourth in the FIFA rankings, while Croatia occupy eleventh spot.
Historically, England v Croatia matches have been real nailbiters. Their only previous World Cup final showdown saw Croatia snatch victory from the jaws of defeat with a 2-1 extra-time win in 2018. More recently, their three encounters have all been settled by a single goal, including that sweet Euro 2020 triumph for England.
England's qualification campaign was flawless – they wrapped up their spot two games early and won their first six matches without conceding, a record they'll be desperate to maintain in this World Cup. Meanwhile, key player news sees Trevoh Chalobah join the squad late, replacing injured Tino Livramento, though he won't arrive until after Wednesday's opener. Bukayo Saka is also listed as a doubt due to injury.
Croatia, on the other hand, report no fresh injury concerns, giving manager Zlatko Dalic a fully-fledged squad to choose from – it promises to be an electric night in Dallas!