World Soccer.—England got its revenge. In a rematch of that painful 2018 World Cup semifinal in Russia, the Three Lions asserted their dominance and defeated Croatia 4-2 on Wednesday in a thrilling match where Harry Kane rewrote the history books and Jude Bellingham shone brightly.
"Hurricane" Kane’s Show and a Legendary Record
The lethal Bayern Munich striker was a true nightmare for the Balkan defense. With a brilliant brace, Kane reached the magical mark of 10 World Cup goals, tying the all-time record for an English player previously held solely by Gary Lineker (set in the 1986 and 1990 tournaments). With this performance, Kane also reached 81 international goals in his career.
His first goal came with a dose of drama. After a foul by the tireless Luka Modric (who, at 40, continues to make history in his fifth World Cup) on Noni Madueke, a penalty kick was awarded. Goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic saved Kane’s first attempt, but VAR intervened to overturn the call, as the goalkeeper’s feet were not on the goal line. On the retake, Kane curled the ball into the net and made no mistake.
Later, he would tie Lineker’s record with a powerful header off a perfectly taken corner kick by Declan Rice.
A completely crazy first half
Despite England’s offensive firepower, Croatia demonstrated its characteristic fighting spirit. Martin Baturina and Petar Musa responded to England’s goals to send the match into halftime with a surprising 2-2 tie.
Musa’s equalizer, scored on the very last play of the first half, had a very special local flavor: the forward plays for FC Dallas in MLS, so he scored just 40 miles from what is usually his home stadium. All of this took place under the comfort of AT&T Stadium’s retractable roof, which shielded the fans from the sweltering Texas heat.
Bellingham Unleashes the Perfect Storm
Hopes for a Balkan draw vanished as soon as play resumed. Two minutes into the second half, Jude Bellingham masterfully controlled a long pass, held off his defender, and fired a shot across the goal that, after grazing the far post, found the back of the net.
England didn’t take their foot off the gas. Although Livakovic made a couple of miraculous saves in the face of the English onslaught, Marcus Rashford stepped up in the 85th minute to nail the fourth goal and seal the decisive 4-2 victory.
What’s next for both teams in Group L?
With three points secured and morale sky-high, England will travel to Foxborough, Massachusetts, to face Ghana next Tuesday. That same day, Croatia will be looking to get back on track and secure its first win when it faces Panama in Toronto.
