England live player ratings vs. Croatia: Grading Three Lions performances from World Cup Group L opener

England are the last of the top seeds to get underway at the 2026 World Cup and Thomas Tuchel’s side face a potentially tricky assignment against Croatia.

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The Three Lions beat Zlatko Dalic’s side in their opening game at the rescheduled Euro 2020, but that only gained a measure of revenge for their heartbreaking defeat in the semifinals of the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Croatia prevailed 2-1 in extra time that night and, along with Dalic, the likes of Luka Modric, Ivan Perisic, John Stones and England captain Harry Kane all remain from the Moscow showdown.

Ghana and Panama complete Group L and meet late on Wednesday in Toronto.

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England vs. Croatia score

Location: Arlington, Texas
Referee: Clement Turpin (France)

Starting lineups:

England (4-2-3-1, right to left): 1. J. Pickford (GK) — 24. R. James, 2. E. Konsa, 5. J. Stones, 3. N. O’Reilly — 4. D. Rice, 8. E. Anderson — 20. N. Madueke, 10. J. Bellingham, 18. A. Gordon — 9. H. Kane

Croatia (3-4-3, right to left): 1. D. Livakovic (GK) — 6. J. Sutalo, 22. L. Vuskovic, 4. J. Gvardiol — 2. J Stanisic, 10. L. Modric, 17. P. Sucic, 14. I. Perisic —16. M. Baturina, 26. P. Musa, 15. M. Pasalic

LIVE: Follow the latest updates from England vs. Croatia

England player ratings vs. Croatia

Thomas Tuchel set out England in his favoured 4-2-3-1 formation, with Jude Bellingham starting in the No. 10 rule behind captain Harry Kane up front. Noni Madueke started on the right wing, with his Arsenal teammate Bukayo Saka not match fit. Anthony Gordon got the nod ahead of Marcus Rashford on the other flank.

All ratings are on a 10-point scale

Starters

GK — Jordan Pickford: 5/10

Got a hand to Martin Baturina’s strike but could not divert the ball away from the top corner. It was fiercely struck, but the Everton man could have done better.

RB — Reece James: 5/10

Lost his balance and ran the risk of conceding a penalty shortly after Kane’s opener, but he just about kept his hands to himself. Got forward well to support Madueke, but failed to track Petar Musa for the leveller.

CB — Ezri Konsa: 5/10

Had little to do on his side of the back four, but collectively, England’s defense looked shaky. Allowed Ivan Perisic to run off his blind side and tee up the equaliser.

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CB — John Stones: 5/10

Poor for the goal as he went to ground too easily to allow Petar Sucic to lay the ball back to Baturina. Made a few good clearing headers.

LB — Nico O’Reilly: 5/10

The Manchester City man was on the periphery in the first half. It looked like he had been instructed to curb his more attacking inclinations — unless he simply had too much to do against Baturina and Josip Stanisic.

CM — Declan Rice: 5/10

Spent much of the half as a more advanced No. 8 on the left of England’s midfield, but without really involving himself in attack. He also did little to screen the back four and was slow to close down Baturina. Typically, his corner for Kane’s header was spot on.

CM — Elliot Anderson: 5/10

The half largely passed him by. Like Rice, he neither linked the attack nor offered much defensively.

RW — Noni Madueke: 7/10

Won the penalty by stealing in front of Luka Modric following a corner. Played a peach of a cross towards Bellingham, which could have been 2-0. He was the brightest of England’s supporting forwards.

AM — Jude Bellingham: 6/10

Played as a No. 10 but with much more intent than in previous England games. He made a few promising runs into the box but did not neglect his more defensive duties, albeit he nearly gifted a goal-scoring chance with a poor clearance.

LW — Anthony Gordon: 4/10

Hardly touched the ball, with England focusing their attack down the right.

CF — Harry Kane: 7/10

His first attempt from the penalty spot was, by his standards, dreadful. The second was far more emphatic. His header was emphatic, even if he had the benefit of some awful marking.

England substitutes vs. Croatia

Teams at the 2026 World Cup are allowed to name at 15 non-starting squad members as substitutes. Tuchel can make five changes across three substitution windows over the course of the match.

England coach vs. Croatia

Thomas Tuchel: 6/10

The team was largely as expected: one constructed around Kane, to bring the best out of the captain. The defensive worries were obvious, though.

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