Kane Equals Lineker as England Thrash Croatia 4-2
A retaken penalty, two Croatia equalisers, then England cut loose — Harry Kane’s brace draws him level with Gary Lineker as the Three Lions’ greatest World Cup scorer.
Croatia Twice Punished England’s Defensive Gaps
England needed a referee’s intervention just to put their first goal on the board. Harry Kane’s initial penalty was saved by Dominik Livakovic — only for the official to spot the keeper off his line and order a retake. This time, Kane drove it home. That fraught 12th minute set the tone for a six-goal roller-coaster in Dallas that Thomas Tuchel’s side ultimately mastered 4-2, climbing to the top of Group L and delivering the statement win their supporters craved. With 70,000 fans roaring inside the stadium, this was England at their chaotic, compelling best.
For all England’s attacking flair, Croatia refused to fold. Martin Baturina struck a superb equaliser on 36 minutes to cancel out Kane’s penalty, and Petar Musa headed Croatia level again deep into first-half stoppage time. Twice pegged back, England looked vulnerable defensively. Yet the character of their response spoke volumes. Two minutes after the restart, Jude Bellingham drove into the box and rifled into the far corner to make it 3-2. Substitutes Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford then combined brilliantly, the latter finishing to seal the points.
Ten Goals — Kane Stands Alongside Lineker
The defining moment arrived not with noise, but with a header. When Kane met Declan Rice’s corner and nodded England into a 2-1 lead midway through the first half, it was his tenth World Cup goal — drawing level with Gary Lineker as England’s all-time leading scorer at the tournament. For a player who missed a penalty in Qatar in 2022, this was sweet redemption delivered in the most reliable way possible: a striker doing exactly what strikers must. Kane will now set his sights on the record outright, with more group-stage matches yet to come and England looking every inch a contender.
England showed they can score from open play, from set-pieces and from the spot — and their bench delivered when called upon. The concern is a backline that shipped two goals against a Croatia side already struggling at this tournament. Fix that, and Tuchel’s Three Lions could be a genuine contender all the way to the final. The knockout rounds are coming fast, and right now England look ready for them.
