England vs Croatia: Top five players to watch out for in FIFA World Cup 2026 ft- Harry Kane & Luka Modric

Star-studded English side eye big win over 2018 Finalists Croatia in World Cup opener in Dallas

Positioned directly within the Metroplex’s massive urban sprawl, the Dallas Stadium (AT&T Stadium) in Arlington, USA, gears up to host a highly anticipated Group L fixture in the FIFA World Cup 2026, where European heavyweights and former finalists Croatia take on a star-studded England side.

Maybe it is coming home for England, who have had too many near-miss moments in the Euros and the FIFA World Cup. The 1966 Champions are one of the favourites to top Group L and make it to the knockouts.

They are led by German gaffer Tuchel, who will be keen to end England’s long 60-year wait and bring back the FIFA World Cup trophy home. After all, he has previously led an English team to UEFA Champions League glory and knows how to win trophies.

Croatia are one of the only two teams to win back-to-back medals in the last two editions of the FIFA World Cup. Despite their excellent track record in the World Cup, many do not consider them as a serious contender due to their aging squad.

Who better than Zlatko Dalic to lead them from the dugouts? Despite an underwhelming campaign in Euro 2024, he knows how to win silverware in big stages after winning two medals.

In this article, we take a look at the top five players to keep an eye on in the upcoming match between and Croatia.

5. Declan Rice (England)

Rice is coming after helping Arsenal win the historic English Premier League title after 22 years. He is the main anchor of the English team in midfield. He will be tasked with the responsibility of creating chances from the centre of the park and also create chances.

He started all 5 matches at the 2022 World Cup. Given his recent form with the Gunners, he is expected to start every game for England in the FIFA World Cup 2026. He has 14 goal contributions in 54 games for Arsenal this season.

4. Luka Modric (Croatia)

After departing Bernabeu, many doubted Luka Modric’s fitness. But he silenced his critics after a brilliant display with AC Milan in the Italian top flight, where he was the heartbeat of Milan in the midfield and helped them secure a continental berth.

He played a key role in helping Croatia clinch back-to-back World Cup medals, including a bronze in the last edition and a silver in the 2018 World Cup after a 4-2 defeat to France in the finals.

Also Read: Preview: England vs Croatia prediction, odds, where to watch, time | FIFA World Cup 2026

3. Jordan Pickford (England)

The English custodian is coming after a brilliant spell with Everton in the English Premier League, making 11 clean sheets in 37 games and will be keen to start his World Cup campaign with a clean sheet.

The man who single-handedly carried England to the Euro 2024 finals, Jordan Pickford, made some of the best saves. During penalties and set-piece moments, England could not ask for someone better than Jordan Pickford between the sticks.

2. Mateo Kovacic (Croatia)

One of the very few players to win the UEFA Champions League with two different clubs. Kovacic has played for top teams like Inter Milan, Chelsea, and Real Madrid before making a move to Manchester City. Midfield wins matches and pairing with Modric, he will be eager to dominate the midfield battles against England.,

His recent form with City has been fairly inconsistent. He will be looking forward to rediscovering his lost form with his nation in the World Cup 2026.

1. Harry Kane (England)

One of the favourites to win the Golden Boot in FIFA World Cup 2026, Harry Kane is aging like a fine wine. Unarguably, one of the greatest strikers of all time, captain Kane will be raring to go all guns blazing against Croatia in the opener.

Captain Harry Kane is England’s all-time highest goalscorer, and he is synonymous with winning the Golden Boot anywhere he plays. He is coming after winning the Bundesliga title with Bayern Munich. Kane went on to score a record-breaking 61 goals in 55 games for Vincent Kompany’s side.

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