Thomas Tuchel will lead England into their World Cup 2026 opener against Croatia in Dallas, a fixture laden with major tournament history and a huge opportunity for the Three Lions. The former Chelsea boss has a big call to make over Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers for the Group L curtain-raiser, with kick-off set for later today.
Croatia have dished out enough hurt to England over the years to prove they must not be taken lightly. The two sides have met in several high-stakes knockout matches, including the 2018 World Cup semi-final, and the 1998 World Cup group stage.
“Thomas Tuchel leads England into World Cup 2026 opener against Croatia in Dallas, with Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers selection in focus.”
Tuchel, who has already made headlines by revealing his decision on the national anthem, will be hoping to start the tournament with a win. The German coach has a fully fit squad to choose from, but the selection of Bellingham and Rogers remains a key decision.
Elsewhere in the tournament, France’s Kylian Mbappe was denied a clear penalty in a previous match, leaving observers flabbergasted. Watching in a pub, the Guardian’s Tom Garry and former referee Darren Cann were among those who saw the referee view replays and still come up with the wrong decision.
Meanwhile, Australia’s Awer Mabil reflected on a viral video of his teammates. “The reason why it went viral is because it was raw. It was not edited. It was just purely what the players wanted to say and all put together. It had an effect because individually Australians can feel and relate with it.”
For England, the focus is on avoiding another Croatian heartbreak. Tuchel’s side know that a strong start in Dallas could set the tone for the rest of the group stage and beyond.