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  "path": "/sport/football/england-croatia-world-cup-2026",
  "publishedAt": "2026-06-17T22:01:12.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "World Cup day seven: England beat Croatia in Three Lions tournament opener",
    "Ligue 1 manager dies aged 58 as family issues statement",
    "Thomas Tuchel will only sing England national anthem on one condition ahead of Croatia opener",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nEngland have got off to winning ways in the World Cup, beating Croatia 4-2 in a brilliantly entertaining affair.\n\nThe Three Lions took the lead twice in the first half, both thanks to Harry Kane, but were answered back through goals from Martin Baturina and Petar Musa.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nJude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford's second-half strikes were enough for England to pick up all three points in Group L and defeat Croatia.\n\nThe Three Lions dominated throughout, with plenty of positives to take from their opening performance.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nEngland started the contest with the majority of the ball, as everyone in white was keen to get a touch on the ball.\n\nThe Three Lions eventually moved the ball deeper into Croatia's half as they started to cause problems.\n\nNoni Madueke, who was a surprise selection by Thomas Tuchel, beat Luka Modric to the ball and was brought down inside the area for a penalty to England.\n\nKane stepped up, having his effort saved, but Josko Gvadiol encroached inside the penalty area, and Dominik Livakovic stepped off his line, leading to the spotkick being retaken.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n### LATEST SPORTS NEWS\n\n\n\n\n  * World Cup day seven: England beat Croatia in Three Lions tournament opener\n  * Ligue 1 manager dies aged 58 as family issues statement\n  * Thomas Tuchel will only sing England national anthem on one condition ahead of Croatia opener\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nNo messing about this time. Kane smashed it past Livakovic to give England an early advantage.\n\nOn the half-hour mark, it was Madueke again who caused problems, being played a perfectly weighted ball by Kane to run onto.\n\nThe Arsenal winger delivered a wicked ball in, which Bellingham raced onto, but could not make any contact.\n\nDespite the pressure from the Three Lions, Croatia found a response, coming from Martin Baturina.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe Como midfielder is set the ball on the edge of the penalty area and hits a brilliant right-footed strike into the top-left corner past Jordan Pickford.\n\nHis celebrations were short-lived, though, as captain Kane stepped up again, rising from a corner to head past Livakovic.\n\nA stunning header from a player at the peak of his power.\n\nSeven minutes later, Croatia were laughing again as Petar Musa slotted past Pickford, and the two sides headed in at half-time all square.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nEngland came out for the second half like a house on fire, with Bellingham scoring inside the first two minutes.\n\nThe youngster broke away down the right-hand side and finished superbly into the bottom left corner. A stunning goal by a talented player.\n\nLivakovic was called into action numerous times at the beginning of the second half, with whatever Tuchel was telling his players having a huge impact.\n\nThe German made some big changes in the second half, taking off both Declan Rice and Bellingham and shuffling the midfield to move Reece James inside.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe moves worked as substitutes Bukayo Saka and Rashford combined, with the latter finishing superbly into the bottom right corner.\n\nEngland saw out the six minutes of stoppage time, as the Three Lions got their World Cup campaign off to winning ways.\n\nNot the easiest of opponents for England to see off, but they found a way.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "England beat Croatia 4-2 and start World Cup campaign with a win"
}