England - Croatia live: Kane converts penalty to put Three Lions ahead

England begin their World Cup campaign against Croatia in a rematch of the 2018 semi-final, with Thomas Tuchel's side seeking to shake off selection controversy and make an impact in Group L. Follow our liveblog to see how it unfolds. Expected lineups England : Pickford - James (ou Spence), Konsa, Guéhi, O’Reilly - Rice, Anderson - Saka (ou Madueke), Bellingham, Gordon (ou Rashford), Kane. Musa finds space but Jude Bellingham races back to make a crucial defensive block and keep England's lead intact King Harryyyyy Kaneeeeee French referee Turpin indicated a retake. Kane takes a long run-up and buries the penalty into the bottom right corner. The milestone 80th goal for the Three Lions captain!! What a saveee Harry Kane strikes low to the right but Dominik Livaković reads it perfectly and makes the save. A huge let-off for Croatia. PENALTY! Noni Madueke darts past Luka Modric in the box and the 40-year-old veteran brings him down. A surprising error from the Croatian legend as England earn a crucial early chance from the spot First chance for Croatia Perisic finds Baturina at the far post but his finish sails over Pickford's goal. Off we go! Croatia's anthem Lijepa naša domovino rings in Arlington God save the King England's national anthem fills the stadium. Croatia's starting XI England's official lineup Three Lions ready for business Texas vibes! Hiya!! 🤠 Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Group L opener between England and Croatia, A rematch of the 2018 semi-final, this clash from Arlington, Texas promises to set the tone for both nations' tournament campaigns. Kick-off is coming shortly! Always well-placed without ever claiming a second title in its history, modern England launches its World Cup 2026 against Croatia. Vice-champions of Europe begin with the toughest side of Group L, a clash against the team of 40-year-old veteran in Arlington, Texas, before facing the less-favoured Ghana and Panama. Thomas Tuchel's selection choices have already sparked controversy ahead of the tournament, with debate over team composition and squad depth continuing to dominate headlines, but England arrive as one of the tournament's genuine contenders, boasting a golden generation of attacking talent. Croatia, meanwhile, continue to punch above their weight on the world stage, defying expectations for a nation of their size with a remarkable run to the 2018 World Cup final.