It was a day of unbridled joy and unrelenting drama as Gareth Southgate's Three Lions kicked off their World Cup journey with a rip-roaring 4-2 victory over Croatia in Dallas. The scoreline didn't quite do justice to the ebullient atmosphere that erupted at AT&T Stadium, where England's attacking prowess was on full display – and there were some worrying defensive frailties that will keep fans up at night.
Captain Harry Kane stole the show, netting one of those four goals and being crowned man of the match. He's the master strategist, dropping deep to create chaos in midfield and link play with the mercurial Noni Madueke. The 22-year-old speedster was a constant thorn in Croatia's side, his pace and guile creating mayhem – and earning England that crucial penalty. Jude Bellingham, operating from the number 10 role, made a significant impact, scoring to put England 3-2 ahead after a mesmerising early run.
Declan Rice was the heartbeat of England's midfield, his powerful running and pinpoint set-piece delivery the catalyst for many of their attacks. He provided the assist for Kane's second goal and created two golden opportunities for Nico O'Reilly – who had a baptism by fire at 21 years old in a major tournament setting. Despite some initial nerves, O'Reilly showed promise and poise, twice getting the chance to score from second-half corners.
But there were moments of concern for Southgate's backroom staff as they reflected on this performance. Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford had some wayward clearances and might feel he could have done better with Croatia's first goal – a harsh lesson in a high-stakes environment. The central defensive pairing of John Stones and Ezri Konsa, while showing flashes of brilliance in building play, also revealed that they need more time together as a partnership in the heat of battle.
And then there were the subs who turned the game on its head – Marcus Rashford, introduced in the 72nd minute, displaying his elite finishing prowess to seal England's fourth goal. And Bukayo Saka, also coming on at 72 minutes, provided the assist for Rashford's goal and helped his team see out the match with aplomb.