England were the dominant force throughout at AT&T Stadium, controlling territory and tempo with a fluid 4-3-3 that pressed Croatia high and suffocated their build-up play. Bellingham was the game's creative heartbeat — drifting between the lines, drawing fouls and threading the pass that unlocked Saka for the opener on 23 minutes. Croatia, showing the pragmatic resilience that has defined their golden generation, weathered the storm and equalised through a vintage Kramarić finish — a Modrić through-ball splitting the English backline with surgical precision. The second half became a battle of wills until Stanišić's clumsy challenge on Bellingham handed Kane the chance to restore England's lead from the spot. Kane converted with his trademark composure, sealing a hard-fought 2-1 win. Croatia's ageing core showed flashes of brilliance but lacked the legs to sustain pressure over 90 minutes. England look like genuine contenders; Croatia face a must-win scenario in their remaining group games.

• Saka registered 4 key passes and 1 goal — his directness on the right repeatedly exposed Pongračić.
• Modrić (38 yrs) still completed 91 touches and 3 chances created — a farewell World Cup masterclass in the making.
• England won 3 of 4 corners in the first half, generating 0.6 xG from set-piece situations alone.
• Kramarić's equaliser was Croatia's only shot on target in the first 70 minutes — clinical finishing vs low volume.
• The penalty that decided the game came after Stanišić's rash challenge on Bellingham — his third yellow-card foul of the match.
• England's high press forced 11 Croatian turnovers in the opposition half, underlining Gareth Southgate's successor's tactical evolution.