Harry Kane Scores as England Defeats Croatia 4-2 in World Cup Opener

Harry Kane found the back of the net as England kicked off their World Cup campaign with a 4-2 victory over Croatia. The win marked a strong start for the Three Lions, with Kane's goal also seeing him equal Gary Lineker's record of 10 World Cup goals for England.

The match saw Kane score from the penalty spot after Noni Madueke was fouled in the box. Although his initial penalty was saved by Croatian goalkeeper Dominik Livaković, the referee ordered a retake due to Livaković moving off his line. Kane converted the second attempt, leveling the score.

Kane, who had a prolific season with Bayern Munich, scoring 61 goals across all competitions, arrived at the tournament as a leading contender for the Golden Boot. His performance underscores the hopes placed on him by his countrymen, who have not won a major trophy in 60 years, since their 1966 World Cup triumph on home soil.

Croatia, led by coach Zlatko Dalić for nearly a decade, has achieved significant success in recent World Cups, securing a silver medal in 2018 and a bronze in 2022. This is their seventh World Cup appearance, having previously won medals in three tournaments, including a third-place finish in their debut in 1998.

Kane's goal was not the only one in a back-and-forth match. Croatia equalized twice, first through a long-range strike from Martin Baturina and later just before halftime with a goal from Petar Musa. However, England regained the lead after halftime, with Jude Bellingham scoring his first international goal since 2024, and Marcus Rashford sealed the victory late in the game.