England - Croatia live: Kane's double not enough as Musa levels the score

England’s opening World Cup match against Croatia carried the weight of history long before the first whistle blew. The rematch of the 2018 semi-final—where Croatia’s extra-time heroics saw them edge out England on the way to that year’s final—was framed as more than just a Group L opener. It was a referendum on whether Gareth Southgate’s team had evolved beyond its 2018 limitations. Yet the night in Qatar proved that even a brace from Harry Kane couldn’t fully exorcise the ghosts of the past. The broader significance of this result extends beyond a single scoreline. For England, it underscored the fragility of what was once hailed as a "golden generation." The selection controversy surrounding key players like Bukayo Saka, who started despite a lack of minutes in recent months, hinted at deeper tactical and psychological uncertainties. Southgate’s squad selection reflected a gamble on experience over form, a strategy that nearly backfired when Croatia’s Andrej Kramarić equalized before Ivan Perišić’s late winner sealed a dramatic comeback. The match also highlighted England’s persistent Achilles’ heel: defensive lapses under pressure. Despite a dominant first half, they were undone by Croatia’s clinical counterattacking—a trait that defined the Balkan side’s run to the 2018 final. Looking ahead, this result raises critical questions. Can England recover from a demoralizing start in a group that also features Iran and the United States? Will their forwards, Kane aside, show the ruthlessness needed to finish games? And crucially, how will Southgate adjust his tactics to mitigate the defensive vulnerabilities exposed in Doha? The broader trend here is familiar: another tournament, another England side failing to progress past the quarter-finals, despite assembling talent capable of more. The narrative of "what if?" looms large, but the deeper issue may be structural—a disconnect between the ambition of the players and the limitations of the system around them. For Croatia, the victory was a statement of intent, proving their 2018 campaign was no fluke. For England, it was a sobering reminder that talent alone is rarely enough. The road to redemption, if it exists, will require more than just another stirring Kane performance.