World Cup: Group L: England vs. Croatia, 6/17/2026

[kovacro]

So thankful that we were blessed with a generational talent in Modric for all these years and he was a massive part of taking Croatia to fantastic results in 2018 and 2022 but you can clearly see Father Time has caught him.

What a ride, thank you. Looking forward to seeing him on Tuesday for his 200th cap.

 

[cgf]

If I was an England fan I'd be pissed off about how soft on the ball England were. Croatia got into so many looks without even really having to do much. Do you really want to expose Pickford to a ton of attempts?

They really made Jogi proud today.

 

[Sweetnut]

Dana White is a fat bozo.

Absolutely!
Who TF is Dana White?

 

[SeawaterOnIce]

We have to come to terms with the inevitable. Match 104...the World Cup final will feature England vs the USA.

 

[cgf]

If Germany had had this type of game, the pundits would predict we concede 8 against France..

England went up on a gifted penalty with like 10 minutes to go. This was an easy game to control and play out solidly without too many difficulties given Croatia's much diminished stature. The fact it turned into an open exchange is not a sign of England having played well. In fact, England lost shape and control for several stretches. It's not the end of the world, but it's not the kind of performance that wins you tournaments.

You’re not wrong, but teams like England can’t be held to same standard as Germany. We’re at the tourney to win, they’re just there to have a fun ride until they run into a big team in the knockouts.

 

[Islesfan22]

First half was good second England over ran them. England defense is shaky but going forward they looked really especially the second half. Corners was also dangerous almost everyone.

 

[Karterthadon]

England have something that very few teams have in this tournament, a legitimate World Class striker. That alone should take them places.

 

[Live in the Now]

The result here makes it very likely England will play against Mexico at Azteca.

 

[Brookbank]

England looked great. But England has such Toronto Maple Leafs vibe. They will have a couple good rounds, get unlucky and find a new way to disappoint. They cant have nice things and wont.

Same goes for Netherlands. Every world cup, you can count on England and the Netherlands not winning it. Regardless how good they are.

 

[Bozo Nicholson]

Absolutely!
Who TF is Dana White?

President of the UFC. He’s got a stupid Dodge truck commercial that plays nonstop in the U.S.

 

[Live in the Now]

England looked great. But England has such Toronto Maple Leafs vibe. They will have a couple good rounds, get unlucky and find a new way to disappoint. They cant have nice things and wont.

Same goes for Netherlands. Every world cup, you can count on England and the Netherlands not winning it. Regardless how good they are.

People used to say this about Spain every two years without fail. They'll never win anything because the players hate each other, blah blah blah, then 2008 came and they won the Euros without even having their best team yet. And then they kept winning. They won three tournaments in a row and barely let the other team have the ball.

The players who play now have no significance to the past of their country. They are eventually going to win. England has good teams every single time, that's the most likely way for a team to win.

I think Spain will win, but I think it's asinine to dismiss a good team that keeps churning out great players. The Netherlands are not applicable in this category because they do not have the same level of players they used to.

 

[cgf]

England looked great. But England has such Toronto Maple Leafs vibe. They will have a couple good rounds, get unlucky and find a new way to disappoint. They cant have nice things and wont.

Same goes for Netherlands. Every world cup, you can count on England and the Netherlands not winning it. Regardless how good they are.

Netherlands haven't been good enough to win in a long time. England haven't really either, but they at least have Kane.

 

[FinPanda]

Great game

 

[Sweetnut]

President of the UFC. He’s got a stupid Dodge truck commercial that plays nonstop in the U.S.

Oh, he's the idiot who is friends with the orange idiot and a asshole. Gotcha.

 

[McGarnagle]

England looked great. But England has such Toronto Maple Leafs vibe. They will have a couple good rounds, get unlucky and find a new way to disappoint. They cant have nice things and wont.

Same goes for Netherlands. Every world cup, you can count on England and the Netherlands not winning it. Regardless how good they are.

England's curse is always being really good but never the best. Like who would you rather be over the last 50 years? England, who are always in the semis of every tourney but never took home a trophy, or Italy who will win the WC and Euro then miss the next 3 tournaments altogether?

I have nothing against England, but I will say, there's nothing more fun in soccer than them getting eliminated on penalties.

 

[Brookbank]

Netherlands haven't been good enough to win in a long time. England haven't really either, but they at least have Kane.

Even if they were good enough, they wouldn't win. Long established trends tend to stick. Italy will probably win another one 8 years from now before ENG or NED win.

 

[Bozo Nicholson]

Oh, he's the idiot who is friends with the orange idiot and an asshole. Gotcha.

Correct, lol

 

[gary69]

People used to say this about Spain every two years without fail. They'll never win anything because the players hate each other, blah blah blah, then 2008 came and they won the Euros without even having their best team yet. And then they kept winning. They won three tournaments in a row and barely let the other team have the ball.

The players who play now have no significance to the past of their country. They are eventually going to win. England has good teams every single time, that's the most likely way for a team to win.

I think Spain will win, but I think it's asinine to dismiss a good team that keeps churning out great players. The Netherlands are not applicable in this category because they do not have the same level of players they used to.

I think this the shakiest central defence England has had in decades, though. Konza has always been at best a borderline intenational level CB and Stones isn't the player he was some years ago. Maybe Guehi somehow has a great tournament, but I doubt it. Pickford isn't really absolute top level keeper either. The FBs probably are good enough to make a deep run, but I doubt the England offensive ability can overcame their defensive frailties.

Depending on who they will face in the knockouts, I see England going out at QFs at best.

 

[Live in the Now]

I think this the shakiest central defence England has had in decades, though. Konza has always been at best a borderline intenational level CB and Stones isn't the player he was some years ago. Maybe Guehi somehow has a great tournament, but I doubt it. Pickford isn't really absolute top level keeper either. The FBs probably are good enough to make a deep run, but I doubt the England offensive ability can overcame their defensive frailties.

Depending on who they will face in the knockouts, I see England going out at QFs at best.

I don't disagree with that, but my problem is more with the idea that they 'won't win ever.' Let's say in the next 30 years they play 15 tournaments. The real surprise would be that they wouldn't win a single one. Nobody would have agreed with the idea that Italy would miss 3 WC's. It doesn't hold water to me when people broadly apply those statements to the future.

 

[Summer Rose]

Who scores the first two goals for England?
@Summer Rose

David Beckham and Geoff Hurst.

 

[Islesfan22]

So thankful that we were blessed with a generational talent in Modric for all these years and he was a massive part of taking Croatia to fantastic results in 2018 and 2022 but you can clearly see Father Time has caught him.

What a ride, thank you. Looking forward to seeing him on Tuesday for his 200th cap.

Modric looks done unfortunately. Baturina and Sucic played well so there is some youth there. England a class better than Croatia though.

 

[All Mod Cons]

I think this the shakiest central defence England has had in decades, though. Konza has always been at best a borderline intenational level CB and Stones isn't the player he was some years ago. Maybe Guehi somehow has a great tournament, but I doubt it. Pickford isn't really absolute top level keeper either. The FBs probably are good enough to make a deep run, but I doubt the England offensive ability can overcame their defensive frailties.

Depending on who they will face in the knockouts, I see England going out at QFs at best.

The beauty of it is though, is that whether or not you think the centre backs are poor, there are very few centre forwards in world football.

 

[All Mod Cons]

I think this the shakiest central defence England has had in decades, though. Konza has always been at best a borderline intenational level CB and Stones isn't the player he was some years ago. Maybe Guehi somehow has a great tournament, but I doubt it. Pickford isn't really absolute top level keeper either. The FBs probably are good enough to make a deep run, but I doubt the England offensive ability can overcame their defensive frailties.

Depending on who they will face in the knockouts, I see England going out at QFs at best.

How about going forward?

 

[TheGreenTBer]

I have nothing against England, but I will say, there's nothing more fun in soccer than them getting eliminated on penalties.