Eight years ago, Croatia shattered England's dream of reaching the final of the world's premier tournament, claiming a dramatic 2-1 extra-time victory in the semi-final. For some, that night was the greatest in the history of the national team; for others, a lingering wound.
Since then, England have beaten Croatia twice, in the Nations League and at the European Championship, but they have yet to settle the score on the world's biggest stage. On June 17, the Three Lions will get another opportunity as the two sides begin their Globe Cup 2026 campaign with a highly anticipated showdown, and this 1xBet review will tell you what to expect from this match.
England: Uneasy favorite
The Three Lions arrive in the United States as one of the leading contenders for the title, but Thomas Tuchel's squad selection has sparked plenty of debate. Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Harry Maguire, and Luke Shaw were all left out, while Ivan Toney, Jordan Henderson, and Dan Burn earned places in the squad. Maguire admitted he was shocked by the decision, while social media users even joked with conspiracy theories: "He's German and doesn't want England to win."
The Three Lions began their preparation for the tournament with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over New Zealand. The only goal came in first-half stoppage time, when Harry Kane, England's all-time top scorer, found the net for the 79th time in a Three Lions shirt. Tuchel was disappointed with the team's attacking performance: England's pressure on the opponent's goal often boiled down to uninspired crosses and long-range shots.
The Three Lions looked far more convincing in their second warm-up match, defeating Costa Rica 3-0. Declan Rice opened the scoring early, Anthony Gordon converted a penalty, and Ollie Watkins sealed the victory. The advantage was overwhelming: 28 shots to 1, with none on target.
However, this result shouldn't be overstated: Costa Rica are currently on a six-match winless run and fall well short of Croatia's level, the team England will face in their opening match of the tournament.
Croatia: Relying on character
At 40, Luka Modrić is heading to his fifth global international tournament, which is expected to be the final chapter of his remarkable career. In April, the Croatia captain, who now plays for AC Milan, suffered a double cheekbone fracture following a collision with Juventus midfielder Manuel Locatelli. After undergoing surgery, Modrić is set to play wearing a protective face mask.
Neither age nor the mask has diminished his quality. In Croatia's friendly against Slovenia, Modrić opened the scoring and helped his side secure a 2-1 victory. The match marked his 198th appearance for the national team. Among players competing at this tournament, only Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have earned more international caps.
The win over Slovenia was a positive response to Croatia's previous friendly, a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Belgium. That match against the Red Devils highlighted the team's biggest issue. Croatia struggled to match Belgium's pace, created few dangerous attacking situations, and were often unable to cope with quick transitions. Dalić admitted that Belgium had been the better side and acknowledged that his team lacked creativity in attack.
What to expect from the clash?
Matches between England and Croatia are never easy. The two nations have faced each other 11 times, staging a real fight on the pitch in each game: England holds the edge with six victories, Croatia has won three times, and two matches have ended in draws.
For Tuchel, anything less than a victory will be viewed as a disappointment. It's important for England not just to dominate possession, but to quickly move the ball to the flanks, involve runners from deeper positions, and find Harry Kane in the penalty area. Against Belgium, the Croatians faltered in these situations, struggling to keep up with their opponents' pace and poorly reacting to crosses into the box.
Croatia needs a different scenario. Luka Modrić and Mateo Kovačić must control the ball and slow the game's tempo. If Croatia succeeds, they have a good chance of causing problems for the favorites. Croatia may not have their former attacking brilliance, but they still have the character and experience from the previous two tournaments, in which Dalić's side performed better than England.
Odds
England is the clear favorite in this clash: the odds for Thomas Tuchel's team to win are 1.73. A draw is estimated at 3.81, while Croatia’s victory is at 4.75.
Follow this crucial showdown and root for your favorite with 1xBet!
Published by Patrick Jane
17.06.2026