England’s fans were carried out of the magnificent Dallas Stadium into the warm night air on a carpet of exhilaration after Thomas Tuchel’s side delivered a powerful statement of intent. But the head coach could barely disguise his displeasure as his team’s 4-2 victory over Croatia was a mixture of thrilling attacking football and worrying defensive frailty.
Harry Kane, who equaled Gary Lineker’s World Cup record of 10 goals for his country, had told his teammates to be “free in the mind” and embrace the pressures the World Cup brings – and they took him at his word for good and bad. The captain scored twice as England led on two occasions, only for poor defending to allow the ever-dangerous Croatia back into the game.
“England beat Croatia 4-2 in a thrilling World Cup opener, with Harry Kane scoring twice to equal Gary Lineker's record.”
Tuchel’s cold fury in the first half was evident, and whatever he said at half-time – later revealed as “if we lose, we lose in our way” – was the catalyst for an outstanding attacking display. The second half saw an attacking siege that led Tuchel to fall into the arms of countryman Jurgen Klopp on the touchline, who was working as a TV pundit.
But the thought of world-class strikers being faced with the sort of slipshod defense seen in Dallas, especially in the first half, will be a sobering takeaway for Tuchel. The contentious selection of Ezri Konsa ahead of Marc Guehi did not pay off, as Konsa failed to make a compelling case for his continued inclusion. Whether fans will love it if England defend so poorly against better opposition is another matter.
This was an England we haven’t seen for years – fun to watch and full of intent. Sir Gareth Southgate’s excellent record showed the ends justified the means, but it was rarely done in a style that moved you to the edge of your seat. Here, dull it was not. Smiles on the faces of supporters making their way away from the vast arena told another story.
For those who couldn't make the journey to Texas, special fan zones have been set up around England for people to watch the game live. The echoes of that exhilaration will be felt across the country.