Group L begins with a match that immediately tests England’s title ambitions. Croatia are no longer only the Modrić-era veteran side of past tournaments, but they still have enough midfield intelligence and tournament discipline to make this opener uncomfortable.
On June 18 at 01:30 IST, “England” will play against “Croatia” at “Dallas Stadium” in Arlington, Texas. The game is scheduled for June 17 locally, but in Indian time it falls after midnight. Both teams start the group with Ghana and Panama still to come, so avoiding an early setback is especially important.
England enter the tournament with a confirmed 26-man squad and several big-name omissions. That gives Thomas Tuchel a clearer tactical identity, but also increases pressure on the players he selected. Croatia’s situation is slightly different: their preliminary squad has been named, Luka Modrić is included after cheekbone surgery, and the final list is still subject to official confirmation. That makes the Croatian lineup less fixed, but the core of the team is already clear.
Teams Current Form
“England” form
England finished qualification with excellent control, winning away to Albania, beating Serbia at home and closing the campaign without conceding in the final stretch. The friendly window in March was less convincing. The draw with Uruguay and the defeat to Japan showed that England can struggle when opponents defend compactly and force the attack into slower central combinations.
The main strength is still balance. Declan Rice gives the midfield protection, Jude Bellingham can attack the spaces behind Croatia’s double pivot, and Bukayo Saka remains the most reliable one-on-one outlet. Harry Kane’s role is also important because Croatia are likely to defend with patience and deny easy transition moments. England will need Kane not only as a finisher, but also as a player who can connect the front line.
“Croatia” form
Croatia arrives with strong qualifying results and a squad that still has a clear tournament identity. The wins over Faroe Islands, Montenegro and Gibraltar confirmed that the team can control matches against weaker opposition, while the March victory over Colombia showed that Croatia can still compete well outside Europe.
The defeat to Brazil was the more useful warning. Croatia stayed in the game for a long time, but once Brazil increased speed in the final third, spaces began to open. Against England, that could become the decisive issue. Luka Modrić and Mateo Kovačić can still slow the rhythm and protect the ball, but the defensive line must cope with Saka, Bellingham and the physical presence of Kane for long periods.
Probable Lineups
“England” lineup
4-2-3-1: Jordan Pickford, Reece James, John Stones, Marc Guéhi, Nico O’Reilly, Declan Rice, Kobbie Mainoo, Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham, Anthony Gordon, Harry Kane.
“Croatia” lineup
4-3-3: Dominik Livaković, Josip Stanišić, Josip Šutalo, Joško Gvardiol, Duje Ćaleta-Car, Luka Modrić, Mateo Kovačić, Mario Pašalić, Ivan Perišić, Andrej Kramarić, Ante Budimir.
Who will not play
For “England”, Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Harry Maguire were not included in the confirmed World Cup squad. They should be treated as selection omissions, not injury absences. Reece James has had fitness concerns in recent seasons, so his condition should still be monitored before the match.
For “Croatia”, the available information is based on the preliminary World Cup squad. Luka Modrić is included after cheekbone surgery, while Joško Gvardiol and Luka Vušković returned from injury layoffs before the tournament. The final Croatia squad is expected to be confirmed later, so the final availability picture should be checked again before kickoff.
The most accurate information on the lineups will be available immediately before the meeting.
Statistics for the Last 5 Matches
“England”
31.03.26, Friendly: England 0-1 Japan
27.03.26, Friendly: England 1-1 Uruguay
16.11.25, World Cup Qualifying: Albania 0-2 England
13.11.25, World Cup Qualifying: England 2-0 Serbia
14.10.25, World Cup Qualifying: Latvia 0-5 England
In the last five official and friendly matches, “England” have 3 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat. The team scored 10 goals and conceded 2.
“Croatia”
31.03.26, Friendly: Brazil 3-1 Croatia
26.03.26, Friendly: Colombia 1-2 Croatia
17.11.25, World Cup Qualifying: Montenegro 2-3 Croatia
14.11.25, World Cup Qualifying: Croatia 3-1 Faroe Islands
12.10.25, World Cup Qualifying: Croatia 3-0 Gibraltar
In the last five official and friendly matches, “Croatia” have 4 wins and 1 defeat. The team scored 12 goals and conceded 7.
Head-to-Head Statistics
13.06.21, UEFA Euro: England 1-0 Croatia
18.11.18, UEFA Nations League: England 2-1 Croatia
12.10.18, UEFA Nations League: Croatia 0-0 England
11.07.18, FIFA World Cup: Croatia 2-1 England after extra time
09.09.09, World Cup Qualifying: England 5-1 Croatia
In the last five official head-to-head matches, “England” have 3 wins, “Croatia” have 1 win, and 1 match ended in a draw.
Main prediction for the “England” - “Croatia” game
England – Croatia: forecast on event 17 June 2026
England Win
This is a difficult opener rather than a comfortable favorite’s match. Croatia can reduce tempo, hold possession in midfield and force England to attack with patience. Still, England have the stronger physical profile, a confirmed squad plan and more pace in advanced areas. If Rice and Mainoo prevent Modrić and Kovačić from controlling the centre, Bellingham should find enough space between the lines to make the difference. You can place a bet on this option on the Batery official website.
For
Additional predictions
England – Croatia: forecast on event 17 June 2026
Total Under 3.5 Goals
The matchup points toward long controlled phases. England have recently been strong defensively in competitive matches, while Croatia are experienced enough to avoid turning the first group match into an open exchange. A narrow England victory, such as 1-0 or 2-1, fits the current data better than a high-scoring game.
