England - Croatia / 2026 FIFA World Cup

Follow the LIVE broadcast of the England vs. Croatia match in Group L of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on ŠPORT.sk! The match, also broadcast live on JOJ Šport, kicks off at 10:00 PM.

Group L of the 2026 World Cup immediately kicks off with a clash between two footballing giants, a match that could significantly influence the battle for the top spot. While a rejuvenated England arrives overseas with a singular goal – to end their gold medal drought – a highly experienced Croatia aims to prove that their medal haul from the previous two World Cups was no fluke. A tactical battle of two distinct playing philosophies is expected on the pitch, where avoiding a fatal error will be paramount for both managers.

The "Vatreni" have long shed the label of a team that can only surprise. Their silver medal success at Russia 2018 and bronze joy at Qatar 2022 have catapulted the Balkan nation, with its less than four million inhabitants, into the absolute world elite. The main architect of this stability is coach Zlatko Dalić, who has been at the helm of the national team for nearly a decade. His squad cruised through qualification, dominating opponents in seven of their eight matches.

Although the spring preparation period brought some concerns with losses to Brazil (1:3) and Belgium (0:2), the dress rehearsal against Slovenia (2:1) restored calm to the team. The ageless Luka Modrić remains the absolute heart and brain of the squad. The forty-year-old virtuoso is preparing for his fifth World Cup, and while he naturally loses some pace, his footballing intelligence is irreplaceable for the team. Dalić has proven stalwarts like Kovačić, Kramarić, Perišić, and Gvardiol at his disposal, but he's not afraid to give opportunities to hungry young talent. A huge discovery is the just 19-year-old defensive gem, Luka Vušković. Furthermore, Croatia has increasingly successfully implemented a system with three center-backs recently, allowing them to perfectly lock down their own penalty area and control the rhythm of the game through the midfield.

On the other side of the barricade stands the English colossus, facing immense public pressure. Exactly sixty years have passed since the "Albion's" memorable home triumph in 1966, and fans on the islands are hungry for success. The new German manager, Thomas Tuchel, who took over from Gareth Southgate, has instilled immense confidence in the team. England navigated the qualification process like a hot knife through butter – winning all eight matches with a 22:0 goal difference and becoming the first European representative to secure their tickets to the championship.

However, their flawless defensive record was slightly tarnished during preparation. A 1:1 draw with Uruguay and a shocking, historically first-ever loss to an Asian opponent against Japan (0:1) showed that Tuchel's machine still has room for improvement. The mood in the dressing room was only salvaged by final triumphs over New Zealand (1:0) and Costa Rica (3:0). Tuchel took a significant risk before the tournament, omitting big names like Foden, Palmer, Alexander-Arnold, and Maguire from the squad. Nevertheless, he commands immense strength. The attacking flagship is captain Harry Kane, who has had a phenomenal goal-scoring season at Bayern Munich. Creativity and grit in midfield will be provided by the trio of Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, and Elliot Anderson, while Bukayo Saka, Anthony Gordon, and Marcus Rashford will torment defenses on the wings. The only wrinkle on the German's brow remains Saka's fitness, as he is not 100% fit before the match.

These two countries share a remarkably rich and spicy history, dominated by the memorable 2018 semi-final when Croatia, after extra time, brought all of England to tears. A cautious and tactical chess match is expected on Wednesday. Tuchel will instruct his team to play a pragmatic style with high pressing after losing possession, while Croatia will aim to blunt England's ferocity with gradual build-up play and midfield control.