Updated June 17, 2026
Matchday 1 | Group L | June 17, 2026 | AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX | 4 PM ET
England and Croatia get their World Cup campaigns underway on June 17, with the Three Lions keen to prove why they are considered among the favorites for the tournament.
The last match between these two sides at a World Cup saw Croatia break English hearts with a 2-1 semi-final win in 2018, but while some members of Tuchel's squad will be keen on revenge, the data points to a narrow, cagey affair between two experienced international sides.
Pick: Under 2.5 Goals -136
Confidence: 4 out of 5
England enter this Group L opener with a clear talent edge, but this is not a match that looks built for a wide-margin win. Thomas Tuchel’s side qualified with 8 wins from 8, scoring 22 goals and conceding none, which explains why the market has England around -138. Croatia are priced near +280, with the draw around +375, so the books expect England to control long spells.
The question is whether that control turns into goals. Croatia are still one of the more awkward tournament sides to play against, even with Luka Modric now 40 and Ivan Perisic 37. Modric and Mateo Kovacic give Croatia a way to slow the match down, protect the ball, and limit the open-field attacks and fast transitions England want.
A slow, possession-based approach has been a cornerstone of Zlatko Dalic's Croatia tenure, and bettors should not expect that to change any time soon. The veteran coach will be looking for Modric and Kovacic to retain possession under the high press England will likely utilize in the optimal conditions under the roof at Cowboys Stadium.
England’s team news also leans slightly into a lower-scoring read. Tino Livramento is out of the tournament after a training injury, damaging squad depth at full back, while Bukayo Saka remains a late fitness call due to an ongoing Achilles issue. Saka may still play, and the Arsenal man has said he is "ready to go", but any doubt over England’s best right-sided creator reduces the appeal of chasing goals. Jude Bellingham is expected to start as the central attacking midfielder behind Harry Kane, with Noni Madueke or Marcus Rashford giving Tuchel wide options if he does not start Saka.
Croatia are expected to lean on experience and structure. Josko Gvardiol, Josip Stanisic, Kovacic, Modric, Perisic, and Andrej Kramaric give Dalic a core that knows how to manage major tournament matches. Croatia’s recent friendly results have been mixed, including defeats to Brazil and Belgium, but this squad is usually more difficult to break down once competitive play starts.
The draw also has more relevance than usual for an England match. Croatia will be comfortable making this a 0-0 or 1-1 game deep into the second half, especially if England do not score early. That does not mean Croatia are the better side, but it does make the England moneyline less appealing than the total.
Clean build: England to win (-138) + Under 2.5 Goals (-136). This keeps the SGP simple and tied directly to the 1-0 score projection. Estimated odds: around +175 to +200, depending on sportsbook pricing.
Aggressive build: England to win (-138) + Under 2.5 Goals (-136) + Harry Kane to score anytime. This works with the projected match script if England edge a low-scoring game and Kane is the finisher. Check the live Kane price before placing, as goal scorer markets move quickly close to kickoff.
England projected XI (4-2-3-1): Pickford; James, Stones, Konsa, O'Reilly; Anderson, Rice; Saka, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane
Croatia projected XI (3-4-2-1): Livaković; Šutalo, Vušković, Gvardiol; Stanišić, Kovačić, Modrić, Perišić; Sučić, Baturina; Musa
Lineups are projected and subject to late changes.
Score Projection: England 1 - Croatia 0
Win Probability: England 52%, Croatia 18%, Draw 30%
England should have more possession, more territory, and the stronger bench, but Croatia’s midfield control and tournament know-how make this a harder opener than the odds suggest. The clearest betting angle is not to fight England’s edge, but to play into the match script. A patient England win with few clear chances on either side is the most likely outcome.
The pick is Under 2.5 Goals at -136. England can still justify favoritism, but with Saka’s fitness uncertain, Croatia likely to play at a controlled tempo, and both sides capable of defending set pieces and central spaces well, this looks more likely to be a tight, controlled England win rather than a shootout.
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