Croatia starting lineup vs England confirmed for FIFA World Cup 2026 match
(Courtesy : Getty)
The Chequered Ones face the mighty Three Lions in their World Cup opener tonight.
Croatia begin their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with a tough Group L fixture against England at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas, on June 17. Reeling from a dismal showing in Euro 2024, where they exited in the group stage, the Checkered Ones will aim to bounce back in football’s biggest tournament with the kind of success that they enjoyed in 2018 and 2022.
Never considered anything more than dark horses, the Luka Modric-led side sealed their place among the elite teams with back-to-back World Cup podium finishes – runners-up in Russia and third-place finishers in Qatar.
While a lot of that generation have either retired or are at the twilight of their careers, Zlatko Dalic’s men will look to push the title favourites all the way and make another deep run in the expanded 48-team tournament.
The Vatreni were outstanding in their UEFA qualifying campaign, dropping just two points to top their group. After losing to Brazil and Belgium in their warm-up friendlies, they beat Slovenia 2-1. They will look to use that momentum and provide a good showing against a strong England side tonight.
Also Read: England vs Croatia: All-time Head-to-head records ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026
Let’s look at the Croatia confirmed lineup for the FIFA World Cup 2026 match against England:
Croatia (3-4-2-1): Dominik Livakovic; Josip Sutalo, Luka Vuskovic, Josko Gvardiol; Josip Stanisic, Luka Modric, Mario Pasalic, Ivan Perisic; Petar Sucic, Martin Baturina; Petar Musa.
Substitutes: Dominik Kotarski (gk), Ivor Pandur (gk), Ante Budimir, Duje Caleta-Car, Martin Erlic, Toni Fruk, Kristijan Jakic, Mateo Kovacic, Andre Kramaric, Igor Matanovic, Nikola Moro, Marco Pasalic, Marin Pongracic, Luka Sucic, Nikola Vlasic.
Thoughts on the lineup
FC Dallas striker Petar Musa has been in good form, scoring 12 goals in 13 MLS matches. As a result, he gets the nod as the starting centre-forward over Hoffenheim veteran Andrej Kramaric, who himself scored 14 league goals last season in the Bundesliga.
Inter Milan’s 22-year-old prodigy Petar Sucic and Como attacker Martin Baturina starts below the striker. The midfield pivot behind them will be controlled by Atalanta’s Mario and AC Milan star Luka Modric, who is representing his nation at the age of 40. Manchester City midfielder Mateo Kovacic is a good option off the bench for the head coach.
Another veteran member of the squad, Ivan Perisic, starts in the left wing-back position. German-born Bayern Munich star Josip Stanisic starts at right wing-back. Dalic opted for a three-man defence consisting of Josip Sutalo, Luka Vuskovic, and Josko Gvardiol. Goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic, on loan at Dinamo Zagreb, starts between the sticks.
When is Croatia vs England FIFA World Cup 2026 match?
The Group L clash is scheduled for Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas. In India, the match will take place at 1:30 AM IST on June 18.
Where to watch Croatia vs England match in India?
Fans in India can watch the game live on Zee5 (premium subscription required) or on Unite8 Sports TV channels.
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Sushruta has spent over two years covering football, with a particular focus on Indian and international competitions. Alongside football, he has reported on a variety of sports, bringing curiosity and perspective to every story. When he’s not following the action, he can usually be found binge-watching movies or getting lost in a good book.