As the final whistle blew in Dallas, England were left basking in the glow of a thrilling 4-2 win over Croatia – but beneath the surface, Thomas Tuchel's troops are facing a defensive crisis that could prove their undoing at this World Cup. The manner in which they recovered from a woeful first half to secure three precious points has papered over some very serious cracks in England's backline.
That opening 45 minutes was an unmitigated disaster, with the Three Lions' midfield and defence looking a shadow of their former selves. They struggled to maintain shape without possession, surrendering the ball time and again in high-risk areas, and it was no surprise when Martin Baturina took advantage on two separate occasions to put Croatia 2-0 up at half-time.
The interval was a wake-up call for Tuchel's team – and a stern rebuke from assistant manager Anthony Barry certainly had an impact. Whatever was said in the dressing room, England emerged for the second half like a new team, with Jude Bellingham's thunderbolt kick-starting their comeback, and Marcus Rashford's late breakaway goal sealing the win. Harry Kane, meanwhile, proved his class with two goals of his own – but it's the vulnerability at the back that will keep Tuchel up all night.
John Stones, in particular, looked a long way short of full fitness, with Croatia's second goal a stark reminder of the challenges he faces. Debuts for Nico O'Reilly and others highlighted areas targeted by the Croats, while Reece James also had his work cut out on the other flank.
Now, it's damage limitation for Tuchel ahead of England's showdown with Ghana – and he'll be praying that Declan Rice can shake off a niggling injury soon. The midfielder's return would go a long way towards steadying the ship in midfield, but for now, the defensive woes will continue to haunt this team unless addressed sharpish.