England v Croatia: Predicted XI, Scoreline & The Shirt

England v Croatia. Dallas. June 17. 9pm UK.

This is the one. Tuchel has had two years to prepare for it and exactly zero margin to get it wrong. The last time England played Croatia in a World Cup opener, Raheem Sterling missed a sitter, Lovren bullied everyone, and Luka Modrić made it look effortless. That was 2018. Eight years of hurt since. Let's make it nine if we have to — but we're calling this differently.

Our score: England 2-1 Croatia. Late winner. Put it on the shirt.

The Weight of Game One

There is no low-pressure opener at a World Cup. Ask Belgium 2018. Ask Argentina 2022. Ask Germany 2022. They all thought their group was the easy part. England's group is genuinely winnable — but only if you start well.

AT&T Stadium holds over 80,000. It will be painted white. The noise will be extraordinary and slightly terrifying because a significant portion of those fans will be supporting England while having absolutely no business doing so. This is how international football works now. We accept it.

Tuchel, for all his tactical brilliance, is still learning what England are. This is his twelfth competitive match in charge. Get through Group L in three wins, and the road opens up.

England Form Going In

The recent friendlies were not good. A 1-1 draw with Uruguay. A 0-1 defeat to Japan at Wembley in late March. Japan. At home. On a freezing Tuesday evening in front of a half-empty stadium.

Trent Alexander-Arnold was not in the March squad. Kyle Walker has retired internationally. There is a defensive reshuffle happening at right back that Tuchel has not fully resolved. Maguire has been publicly downgraded to "fifth choice" by his own manager. Phil Foden, who was supposed to be England's creative heartbeat, is being questioned for lack of impact at national level.

The ceiling, if [Bellingham](/journal/5-break