{"id":1034130,"date":"2026-06-18T08:01:27","date_gmt":"2026-06-18T08:01:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1034130\/"},"modified":"2026-06-18T08:01:27","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T08:01:27","slug":"england-v-croatia-live-world-cup-2026-result-and-reaction-as-thomas-tuchel-gives-declan-rice-injury-update-after-thumping-win","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1034130\/","title":{"rendered":"England v Croatia LIVE: World Cup 2026 result and reaction as Thomas Tuchel gives Declan Rice injury update after thumping win"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a>How Jude Bellingham won over Thomas Tuchel to become England\u2019s World Cup No 10<\/p>\n

As Jude Bellingham<\/a> walked off the pitch, a familiar tune rang out from the public address system inside the giant Dallas Stadium. England fans sang along to \u201cHey Jude\u201d as Bellingham walked towards the tunnel, waving to the crowd, embracing his teammates, taking the adulation in his stride.<\/p>\n

This was ostensibly Harry Kane\u2019s night<\/a>, scoring two goals which took him level with Gary Lineker\u2019s tally of 10 at World Cups. But perhaps the evening meant more to Bellingham, a player who has been publicly questioned and privately doubted by his own manager, who has been subjected to scrutiny unlike his teammates. \u201cDon\u2019t bring Jude,\u201d ran a headline in the Daily Mail earlier this season, suggesting England would be better off without him at the World Cup.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s good to put some of the noise aside and just show my country and my teammates how committed I am to helping us win football matches,\u201d said Bellingham, after scoring England\u2019s third goal in a 4-2 win<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Lawrence Ostlere in Dallas18 June 2026 08:56<\/p>\n

<\/a>England’s possible route to the final<\/p>\n

Based on pre-tournament seeding and Fifa ranking<\/p>\n

Round of 32 – 1 July: <\/strong>England v third-place finisher in Group E\/H\/I\/J\/K <\/strong>| Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta<\/p>\n

Round of 16 – 5 July: <\/strong>England vs Mexico | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City<\/p>\n

Quarter-final – 11 July: <\/strong>England vs Brazil | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami<\/p>\n

Semi-final – 15 July: <\/strong>England vs Argentina | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta<\/p>\n

Final – 19 July: <\/strong>England vs Spain | MetLife Stadium, New Jersey<\/p>\n

Will Castle18 June 2026 08:48<\/p>\n

<\/a>What do England need to reach the knockouts?<\/p>\n

England\u2019s win against Croatia puts them in a good position to reach the knockout phase and top the group. <\/p>\n

Unless Panama beat Ghana and Croatia in their first two games, England could seal top spot in the group if they beat Ghana and claim a point against the minnows in their final match. <\/p>\n

If Ghana beat Panama later on Wednesday, as is expected, then the Three Lions\u2019 clash against the Ghanaian side may well decide who goes through as group winners. <\/p>\n

\"\"(Getty)<\/p>\n

Will Castle18 June 2026 08:40<\/p>\n

<\/a>When is England’s next World Cup game?<\/p>\n

England play Ghana on Tuesday 23 June<\/strong>. It will be played at the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, the home of the New England Patriots and outside of Boston. Kick-off is 4pm local time, which is 9pm BST (UK time)<\/strong>. <\/p>\n

It will be shown in the UK on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website. <\/p>\n

England\u2019s World Cup fixtures <\/strong><\/p>\n

June 17:<\/strong> England 4-2 Croatia | AT&T Stadium, Arlington<\/p>\n

June 23:<\/strong> England v Ghana | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough \u2013 4pm ET \/ 9pm BST<\/p>\n

June 27:<\/strong> England v Panama | MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford \u2013 5pm ET \/ 10pm BST<\/p>\n

Will Castle18 June 2026 08:32<\/p>\n

<\/a>Bellingham and the chip on his shoulder<\/p>\n

England midfielder Jude Bellingham believes playing with a \u201cchip on my shoulder\u201d will bring the best out of him at the World Cup.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor me personally, it was nice to put some of the noise aside and just show my country and my team-mates how committed I am to help us try to win football matches,\u201d he told BBC Sport.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a great team performance. Second half, we got things right, first half we got the intensity right, but not quite with the ball and second half we put it all together nicely.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo contribute, to help my team and help my country is one of the biggest honours and regardless of the noise outside, that honour doesn\u2019t change for me at all.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt has been a tough season for me but I am feeling fresh and sharp and stronger.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have got a little bit of a chip on my shoulder. That helps me a lot to find that focus early in the game and to find that intensity.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know that it\u2019s part of being a footballer and I don\u2019t hold a grudge against anyone who says bad things about me because sometimes I do deserve it.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday, it was nice to try to show people and remind people what I\u2019m about.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"JudeJude Bellingham celebrates after scoring England’s third goal (Reuters)<\/p>\n

Will Castle18 June 2026 08:24<\/p>\n

<\/a>How the Golden Boot race looks after round one<\/p>\n

1. Lionel Messi, (Argentina), three goals <\/p>\n

= 2 Harry Kane (England), two goals <\/p>\n

= 2 Erling Haaland (Norway), two goals<\/p>\n

= 2 Kylian Mbappe (France), two goals<\/p>\n

= 2 Folarin Balogun (USA), two goals<\/p>\n

= 2 Elijaj Just (New Zealand), two goals<\/p>\n

= 2 Kai Havertz (Germany), two goals<\/p>\n

=2 Yasin Ayari (Sweden), two goals<\/p>\n

\"England\u2019sEngland\u2019s Harry Kane celebrates scoring their side\u2019s second goal of the game (PA) (PA Wire)<\/p>\n

Will Castle18 June 2026 08:16<\/p>\n

<\/a>World Cup commentator \u2018dripping with blood\u2019 after being hit by projectile at Uzbekistan v Colombia<\/p>\n

Warren Barton was left \u201cdripping with blood\u201d after being hit by an apparent beer bottle during his World Cup 2026<\/a> commentary duties in Colombia<\/a>\u2019s 3-1 win over Uzbekistan<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Barton was at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City<\/a> to team up with Jacqui Oatley during the Fox broadcast.<\/p>\n

The wild atmosphere saw both commentators drenched with beer in the first half after Daniel Munoz broke the deadlock for Colombia.<\/p>\n

And the wild scenes continued in the second half when Barton appeared to be hit by a projectile in the closing stages of the contest, though the former Newcastle and Wimbledon player persevered with the commentary to the end, which saw a frantic finale, including Jaminton Campaz\u2019s stoppage time strike.<\/p>\n

Will Castle18 June 2026 08:08<\/p>\n

<\/a>Inside the England dressing room and Thomas Tuchel\u2019s team-talk that sparked World Cup win over Croatia<\/p>\n

Thomas Tuchel didn\u2019t scream and shout at his players at half-time, although he must have resisted a mighty urge after watching them twice squander the lead against Croatia in their World Cup opener in Dallas<\/a>. England went out of their way to help their opponents back into the game, parting like the Red Sea for Croatia\u2019s first and standing like statues as the second unfolded around them.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe took the decision to go backwards on and off the ball, so we played way too many balls backwards,\u201d Tuchel later explained. \u201cWe played way too many balls back to our goalkeeper. We didn\u2019t dare to eliminate, we didn\u2019t dare to play through the gaps.\u201d<\/p>\n

Instead of ranting and raving, Tuchel allowed for a few moments of calm before sitting down to be at eye-level with his players.<\/p>\n

Lawrence Ostlere in Dallas18 June 2026 08:00<\/p>\n

<\/a>WATCH: England fans go wild over opening goal of World Cup 2026England fans go wild over opening goal of World Cup 2026<\/p>\n

Will Castle18 June 2026 07:45<\/p>\n

<\/a>Fifa responds to reports of fans getting into England v Croatia without a ticket<\/p>\n

Reports, citing eyewitnesses at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, said scores of fans had breached security and entered the venue without any sort of check.<\/p>\n

One witness told Mail Sport: \u201cThere were big gaps at the side of the ticket barriers and people just strolled through. There were volunteers who were basically old ladies and they weren\u2019t stopping anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n

A spokesperson for Fifa said: \u201cAt this stage, we have no indication of fans entering the stadium without a valid match ticket for the game in question.\u201d<\/p>\n

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