England vs Croatia: Tuchel's Challenge in World Cup 2026

The waiting is over. England step into World Cup 2026 with a familiar opponent in their path and an old wound still faintly visible. Croatia again. Group L. Dallas. A rematch of that semi-final that stopped a nation in its tracks eight years ago.

This time, there is a new figure on the touchline. Thomas Tuchel leads England into a major tournament for the first time, armed with a squad packed with talent and expectation, but already juggling the kind of selection dilemma that can shape a campaign before a ball is kicked.

He has 25 of his 26 players available. Only Trevoh Chalobah, drafted in late as injury cover, misses out as he continues his own recovery. Everyone else is ready, at least on paper. The headlines, naturally, fall on Harry Kane. The captain will again carry England’s attacking burden, arriving at a tournament where the biggest stars have wasted no time stamping their authority on the early fixtures. Kane will be expected to do the same, to turn England’s first night in Texas into a statement.

But Tuchel’s most delicate call comes out wide. Bukayo Saka is the question mark hanging over the team sheet. The Arsenal winger is battling an injury that needs careful handling, his fitness a sliding scale rather than a simple yes or no. England know how much they lose without him: the direct running, the balance on the flank, the calm in tight moments. Tuchel must decide whether to trust Saka from the start or hold him back and gamble on impact from the bench.

Across the halfway line, Croatia arrive as a different beast to the side that broke English hearts in Russia. Time has stripped away some of the names that once defined them. The squad is much changed, the aura a little dimmer, the threat less obvious. Yet one constant remains, and it is a significant one.

Luka Modric still sits at the heart of their midfield, the metronome and conscience of this team. At 38, 39, or whatever the birth certificate says by now, he continues to dictate tempo, to bend games to his rhythm. England know this story well. Stop Modric and you choke Croatia’s supply lines. Fail, and he will happily drag his country deep into another tournament.

Group L offers no room for complacency. Ghana and Panama complete the quartet, both dangerous in different ways, both capable of turning a slip into a crisis. That only sharpens the edge on this opener. Win, and Tuchel can breathe, rotate, and manage minutes. Stumble, and every decision – including the one over Saka – will be replayed and dissected.

England arrive in Dallas with scars, with experience, and with a coach who thrives on high-stakes nights. Croatia bring history, craft, and the enduring genius of Modric. One side wants revenge, the other wants to prove it still belongs on this stage.

The stage is set. Now we find out if this England can finally rewrite the script that started against the same colours, on a very different night, eight years ago.