England Faces World Cup Test with Mission to Break Title Drought

England's quest to end a 60-year World Cup drought begins Wednesday as Harry Kane leads the Three Lions into their 2026 tournament opener against Luka Modric's Croatia. Kane, 32, enters his third World Cup after a stellar season with Bayern Munich, where he scored 36 goals in 31 Bundesliga matches and 14 in 13 Champions League games. The prolific striker is England's primary offensive weapon as they aim to replicate their 1966 triumph. Under German coach Thomas Tuchel, who took charge in January last year, England is considered a top favorite for the North American tournament. Tuchel has built a formidable squad, emphasizing collective play and verticality, a philosophy that led him to win the Champions League with Chelsea in the 2020-2021 season. However, his decision to omit talented players like Phil Foden and Cole Palmer from the World Cup squad has drawn criticism from the English press. England navigated the qualification phase undefeated, winning all eight matches with a 22-goal tally and a clean sheet. The team also faced a late defensive change, with Tino Livramento being replaced by Trevoh Chalobah due to injury sustained in training.