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England v Croatia | World Cup Group L | 17 June 2026
Callumcafc
Posts: 66,414
Is it finally the year?
Come on England!
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“England, managed by Thomas Tuchel, will commence their 2026 World Cup campaign against Croatia in Dallas on Wednesday, aiming to secure a second star on their shirt after an unbeaten qualification run.The likely starting XI includes Jordan Pickford in goal, with Reece James and Nico O’Reilly as full-backs, and John Stones expected to partner Ezri Konsa in central defence, reflecting Tuchel's emphasis on height and physicality.The midfield is anticipated to feature Elliot Anderson and Declan Rice centrally, with Jude Bellingham in the No 10 position, providing crucial attacking support and leadership alongside captain Harry Kane.Key selection dilemmas persist on the wings, where Bukayo Saka's fitness may open opportunities for Noni Madueke on the right, while Anthony Gordon and Marcus Rashford are competing for the left-wing role.Harry Kane will spearhead the attack following an outstanding season for Bayern Munich, and Tuchel's squad selection strategy has prioritised team cohesion by omitting high-profile players like Trent Alexander-Arnold, Phil Foden, and Cole Palmer to prevent discontent on the bench.”
https://www.independent.co.uk/bulletin/sport/england-team-squad-line-up-croatia-tonight-b2997349.html0 -
Konsa over Guehi is interesting. I worry about our replacements for Anderson and Rice late on in games3
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I just hope we play with pace
Knocking it around for 20 passes and still being with our centre backs is just playing into Croatia's hands.
They will be slowing games down at every opportunity, so we have gotta get em running around5 -
We have to play with pace and get Gordon and Madueke / Saka running at them at every opportunity.MrOneLung said:I just hope we play with pace
Knocking it around for 20 passes and still being with our centre backs is just playing into Croatia's hands.
They will be slowing games down at every opportunity, so we have gotta get em running around
They have an average age of about 58 so make it count5 -
Lets get the job done as casually as possible tonight, nice 1-0 win would do for meCan't win the Tournament tonight, can't even lose the Tournament tonight, just no unnecessary risks, or over excursionLot of minutes still to come if we want to make the Final... Manage the game, manage the heat3
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Tonight without the heat against an aging side, we got to go at them with pace. Really stretch them out and move it quickly.3
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Christ, I sound like Lee Dixon. Whatever England do “got to move the ball quicker”1
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1-0 is NOT casualForeverAddickted said:Lets get the job done as casually as possible tonight, nice 1-0 win would do for meCan't win the Tournament tonight, can't even lose the Tournament tonight, just no unnecessary risks, or over excursionLot of minutes still to come if we want to make the Final... Manage the game, manage the heat
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Bellingham to start at 10. Just been confirmed on BBC.
(Which, I guess, means he's coming on as a half time sub, as the game kicks off at 9).12 -
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Pickford
James Konsa Guehi O'Reilly
Anderson Rice
Saka Bellingham Gordon
Kane
Is how I'd lineup3 -
England players have looked pretty good to me in the build up.
Especially being willing to harry and chase high up the pitch when opponents have the ball.2 -
Very helpful to be playing in an air-conditioned stadium. England always look better when they move the ball with a bit of urgency, but the aim here is to win the game while exerting the least amount of energy possible. I'd prefer to see and an early burst to try and get a 2 goal lead and then ease off and manage the game from there, but I suspect we might still see it played at a slower pace. Old as they are, Croatia have good players and tons of experience so they probably aren't likely to get blown away early if England do decide to go at them. Hope I'm wrong.
As unambitious as it may sound. A draw would not be a disaster. I mainly want to see signs of a side that is gelling and looks like it can grow into the competition - not the kind of turgid and disjointed stuff we saw at the last World Cup.2 -
Exiled_Addick said:Very helpful to be playing in an air-conditioned stadium. England always look better when they move the ball with a bit of urgency, but the aim here is to win the game while exerting the least amount of energy possible. I'd prefer to see and an early burst to try and get a 2 goal lead and then ease off and manage the game from there, but I suspect we might still see it played at a slower pace. Old as they are, Croatia have good players and tons of experience so they probably aren't likely to get blown away early if England do decide to go at them. Hope I'm wrong.
As unambitious as it may sound. A draw would not be a disaster. I mainly want to see signs of a side that is gelling and looks like it can grow into the competition - not the kind of turgid and disjointed stuff we saw at the last World Cup.Do you not mean the Euros?The last World Cup we had that draw with the United States but otherwise beat Iran 6-2, Wales 3-0, Senegal 3-0... and were the better team vs. France4 -
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Comfortable 0-0.1
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Really fancy 2-0 england2
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Though can't believe madueke is starting0
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I do, apologies.ForeverAddickted said:Exiled_Addick said:Very helpful to be playing in an air-conditioned stadium. England always look better when they move the ball with a bit of urgency, but the aim here is to win the game while exerting the least amount of energy possible. I'd prefer to see and an early burst to try and get a 2 goal lead and then ease off and manage the game from there, but I suspect we might still see it played at a slower pace. Old as they are, Croatia have good players and tons of experience so they probably aren't likely to get blown away early if England do decide to go at them. Hope I'm wrong.
As unambitious as it may sound. A draw would not be a disaster. I mainly want to see signs of a side that is gelling and looks like it can grow into the competition - not the kind of turgid and disjointed stuff we saw at the last World Cup.Do you not mean the Euros?The last World Cup we had that draw with the United States but otherwise beat Iran 6-2, Wales 3-0, Senegal 3-0... and were the better team vs. France2 -
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I agree. Would have Saka there instead.CAFCsayer said:Though can't believe madueke is starting
Edit
Didnt realise he's not fit. Blimey, our players just have to be blown on & they get injured. One gone home already & now we cant put out our best 11.
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I actually think he could be such an unknown. I’m hoping it’s for the good.CAFCsayer said:Though can't believe madueke is starting2 -
Would rather Saka is fresh for the knockouts.... with the last 32 format in place, we SHOULD be getting through this group easily even with a draw tonight.4
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I agree, but this is our toughest group game and there is a while until our next game. Would like to play him today and then give a rest for the knock outs. Hopefully he was in contention and hes playing it safe rather than still not being fit.DamoNorthStand said:Would rather Saka is fresh for the knockouts.... with the last 32 format in place, we SHOULD be getting through this group easily even with a draw tonight.
Is there no way Eze can play on the right?
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Make no mistake…..this will be a difficult game for us.
To be honest, I fancy a draw.🙄0 -
4-0 England.0
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Obviously would be nicer if he was still ours, but proud to see a Sparrows Lane graduate starting in a World Cup opener for England. And on merit to boot.
Just a little sweeter that he's keeping a Palace youth product out of the team!
Ezri has had a pretty good career considering how many of our fans claimed not to fancy him as anything better than a Championship level player.7 -
He's got in his locker to give top defenders a hard afternoon. Yes, his end product is inconsistent, but I doubt Perisic or Gvardiol are going to stay with him if he gets a run at them.ValleyGary said:
I actually think he could be such an unknown. I’m hoping it’s for the good.CAFCsayer said:Though can't believe madueke is starting
This setup is about getting the best out of Harry Kane, and that means letting him drift around, drop deep and give him pacey runners that he can hit with his (seriously underrated) range of passing and also push backlines deeper to give him spaces to drop into.
And it makes sense. Yes, it means people like Fodden have missed out despite probably being better than Mandueke, but Kane is probably in the top 5, maybe 3, players in the World at the moment so of course we should be trying to maximize what he can do for England.2 -
It still staggers me that Modric played the second half when Spurs beat us in the cup in 2011, and 15 years later he's still playing.5
