- Croatia have won seven, drawn one and lost two of their last ten matches in all competitions.
- England have won three, drawn one and lost one of their last five matches (W3, D1, L1).
Tuchel vs Dalić at the top of the game
The much-anticipated clash of England's new Tuchel-led regime against Croatia's seasoned World Cup warriors is upon us at last when the 2026 FIFA World Cup gets underway with a Group L opener at Dallas Stadium on Wednesday.
Thomas Tuchel's system-first style has been evident in the build-up to the tournament with a clear blueprint already established for his England side. The ex-Chelsea and England manager has brought a pragmatic edge to the team, but the talent he has at his disposal allows him to make tactical tweaks that can overpower opponents.
England's game plan is all about possession with pressure when they have it and pressing when they don't. They like to overload central areas and exploit the space between the defensive lines with a pass or run and are equally as effective when they can break away to the front of the opposition's defence.
Jude Bellingham's surging runs from deep are a key part of their structure while Phil Foden's ability to unlock defences adds another dimension to the attack.
Croatia are the masters of possession football, although Zlatko Dalić has taken things to another level since taking charge in 2017. They are a patient side that will look to dominate the midfield and dictate the tempo, but they are selective with their pressing and have the quality to punish teams on the counter-attack or from set-piece situations.
Luka Modrić is still the beating heart of their midfield, where his vision and creativity are crucial, but Croatia are well balanced all over the pitch.
Joško Gvardiol is a rock at the back, yet is just as comfortable on the ball as off it, while Andrej Kramarić's movement off the ball is a big part of why they have been so successful in the international arena over the last few years.
Floodgates could open if England get on top
Croatia have won two and lost one of their last three away matches, so they have the ability to play in Dallas, but England are in better form than any of the nations they defeated during that run.
The Three Lions have won eight, drawn one and lost only one of their last ten in all competitions, but their odds of 39/50 are much tighter than Croatia's 191/50 with the draw around 57/20.
With 37/50 backing the 'Under 2.5 goals' market, the market doesn't see a clear winner but instead a cagey opener for these two favourites in Group L.
We can't split the teams either, but our view is that Croatia's tournament pedigree and tactical discipline should allow them to keep the game very close.
England will be confident of winning, but Croatia will do their best to make this a tough game, although we do see a slight edge for the Three Lions.
England have scored 12 goals in their last seven home games, but this fixture is taking place in Dallas. Harry Kane has three goals in his last five England appearances and remains the main threat, but we prefer the look of the 'Under 2.5' bet, which looks better than the odds on offer for England to win.
