England fans get the party started after stunning 4-2 victory against Croatia in Dallas

England fans went through the agony and ecstacy of their opening 4-2 thriller against Croatia as they sang "It's Coming Home" in Dallas. Barcelona star Marcus Rashford rounded off a stunning 4-2 victory in the opening group game with an ice cool finish on 85 minutes. Our loyal supporters in the fanzone raised the rafters in the Texas Live indoor arena as they watched the goals fly in on a giant 100ft screen. There was a great atmosphere before the game, with thousands of fans having a pre-match drink, leaving those without a ticket to watch the action. But, just nine minutes in, Harry Kane's penalty opener had to be retaken after the Croatia keeper Dominic Livakovic was adjuged to have moved forward. So there were cheers, then silence, then cheers again as he retook the penalty to put England in front; Croatia equalised before Kane crashed in another header to restore the lead, and the noise levels went through the roof. Mechanical technician Tom Critchley from Preston, Lancashire, hailed the England talisman. He said: "You don't get 60 goals a season by accident. It was class. I think we will learn what Thomas Tuchel is all about now." Joe Salazar, 38, from Blackburn, Lancashire, had travelled from Vancouver, Canada, after buying $500 (£375) tickets on the FIFA website. He said: "It has been a great trip, the people here have been so hospitable. We have been here for five days so we were raring to go." And so was the team. Many of the fans were either expats or US based fans both at the fanzone and in the magnificent Dallas Stadium. Mark and Michelle Lynch, from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, won four $500 tickets on a FIFA draw to book the trip of a lifetime. Their son Finley plays for Inter Miami under eights, alongside the son of Lionel Messi, Ciro, who plays 'just like his dad'. So Finley joined them with his grandfather Christopher Morby, 72, from Surrey. Mark, 44, originally from Bournemouth, Dorset, said: "I registered on the FIFA site, entered the lottery and won the tickets. So we are here in the fanzone to enjoy the atmosphere before going to the game." Finley, eight, said: "Yes, it is amazing that dad won the tickets. "Ciro is a very good player, just like his dad." Michelle, 41, added: "Lionel Messi's English is not so good but his wife Antonella speaks excellent English. "They are a lovely family and Lionel comes along to training every week to see his son. He is a very good dad." The arena inside the fan zone was festooned with flags from Stoke City, Brits in St Louis, West Ham United and Oldham Athletic. Fans joked the "joint was really jumping" every time a record played with fans revelling in the big match atmosphere. Kyle d'Souza, 34, of the Dallas Reds, a Man Utd supporters group, said the party had an atmosphere to rival the magnificent 70,000-seater Dallas stadium. He met his hero Peter Schmeichel who was in town commentating for a US network before the Three Lions took on Croatia and said: "For an American football fan, this is a dream come true. "There is no bigger game than England and we have got them here for the World Cup. I not only watch United but I also love to follow England." The Dutch have already partied there following their 2-2 draw with Japan. Danny Stewart, 55, a cousin of former Spurs, Liverpool and Man City star Paul Stewart, travelled from his home in Nashville, Tennessee, to be at the game. "It is a different world out here," he said. "There is so much competition to football. I used to watch the Vancouver Whitecaps when we lived in Canada and they had Alan Ball and Peter Lorimer. "We thought the game would take off then; now it is getting better with Messi and Beckham in Miami. But the TV commentator said it was the end of the first quarter of one of the games that I was watching. I hope that FIFA does not change the game too much." The first wave of WAGs are believed to be in Dallas. Captain Harry Kane, 32, was pictured with his wife, Kate, at their training base in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Newcastle Utd defender Dan Burn, 34, holidayed in Florida with his wife, Roz, and children Indi and Ari and confirmed they were going to the game. Megan Pickford, 30, is in the US after a Caribbean break. The players' families were encouraged to holiday with the stars in the same time zone before the squad met for training. Arsenal stars were given extra time off due to the Champions League final at the weekend. Bukayo Saka's girlfriend Tolami Benson, 26, and Chelsea captain Reece James's partner Mia McClenaghan are due to attend the games.