ALEX CROOK WORLD CUP PREVIEW: England v Croatia

England and Croatia have become familiar foes in recent years, and the pair meet again in Dallas on Wednesday in an eagerly-awaited Group L opener, writes ALEX CROOK.

Croatia famously stopped England from qualifying for Euro 2008, prompting those derogatory ‘Wally with a Brolly’ headlines aimed at the floundering Steve McClaren.

Ten years later, Luka Modric inspired his team to a come-from-behind World Cup semi-final win in Russia.
And while England gained some minor revenge with a 1-0 triumph in the opening game of the Euros in 2021, Croatia were one of the last teams they would have wanted to be paired with so early into the competition.

Croatia have made a habit of punching above their World Cup weight, having reached the semis four years ago after losing to France in the 2018 final. They also fired themselves into the last four in France ’98 when those of us of a certain age were enthralled by the silky skills of Robert Prosinecki and the goalscoring prowess of Davor Suker.

A fourth podium finish appears unlikely however, given many of the heroes from Qatar are now at the veteran stage of their careers, including talisman Modric and ex-Tottenham star Ivan Perisic, the country’s second-highest goalscorer of all-time.

The fact this will be magic man Modric’s last World Cup gives his teammates extra incentive to send him out on a high. Even at the veteran stage of his career, Modric was still one of AC Milan’s most important players this season so England will not be taking him lightly.

The Three Lions won both their warm-up games, scraping past New Zealand 1-0 in uninspiring fashion before putting Costa Rica to the sword in Miami in a much more encouraging manner.

The XI that began that game won’t be far away from the side Tuchel names for this one, with Jude Bellingham and Anthony Gordon both pressing home their claims for a starting spot. Bellingham looked particularly sharp and focused so it would be a major surprise if he finds himself back on the bench.

Bellingham scored the first goal of England’s Euro 2024 campaign against Serbia and looks a decent price at 7/1 with starsports.bet to repeat the trick in what I think will be a low-scoring affair.

England did not concede a single goal in an admittedly easy qualifying group while Croatia are also defensively resolute. You also have to go back 17 years for the last time a meeting between these two was won by a margin of more than one goal.

With that in mind I am slightly surprised to see under 2.5 goals available with starsports.bet at odds against of 11/10.

I do not expect England, unbeaten in a competitive game since the Euros 2024 final with Spain, to lose and it is not hard to foresee the irrepressible Jordan Pickford starting his tournament with a clean sheet.
England to win 1-0 at 21/4 with starsports.bet catches the eye.

If you fancy combining all of my selections, then starsports.bet have boosted a build-a-bet of England to win, both teams to score, no, and Bellingham to score to 7/1.

Check out the latest episode of THE INSIDE CHANNEL – a new football podcast with Alex Crook and Sam Matterface running throughout the 2026 World Cup!

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🎲 LONG SHOT: Jude Bellingham to score the first goal 0.5pts at 7/1 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
📊 BUILD-A-BET: England to win, both teams to score, no, and Bellingham to score 0.5pts at 7/1 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)

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