When they hit their stride it brought to mind that word again. Fun.
Beneath the Texas night sky, Thomas Tuchel's England offered their supporters something rarer than a victory — a glimpse of a team willing to play without fear. The 4-2 defeat of Croatia was imperfect, marked by defensive lapses that history warns us not to ignore, yet it carried the unmistakable signature of a new philosophy: that the pursuit of glory demands courage, not caution. In a tournament where England have long carried the weight of 1966, Tuchel has chosen to treat that burden as fuel rather than anchor.
- England's defensive fragility in the first half — with Croatia twice clawing back into the match — exposed vulnerabilities that could prove catastrophic against the tournament's elite finishers.
- Tuchel's halftime intervention sparked a transformation, with Bellingham's surging goal after the restart shifting the contest's entire psychological weight toward England.
- The defining statement came at the 72nd minute: leading 3-2, Tuchel sent on three attackers rather than shoring up his defence, a bold declaration that this England team intends to win rather than merely survive.
- Kane's brace brought him level with Gary Lineker's England World Cup record and pushed his international tally to 81 goals, anchoring the attacking ambition with individual brilliance.
- England now carry momentum into their next group match against Ghana in Boston, but tactical adjustments at the back are no longer optional — they are urgent.
Thomas Tuchel's England left Dallas Stadium having delivered something their supporters had quietly stopped expecting: a match that was genuinely thrilling to watch. The 4-2 victory over Croatia was far from flawless, but it pulsed with an attacking intent that felt like a deliberate break from the cautious football England have too often produced on the biggest stages.
Harry Kane had urged his teammates before kick-off to be free in their minds, and in patches they were. Kane himself scored twice, drawing level with Gary Lineker's record of 10 World Cup goals for England, though sloppy defending allowed Croatia to stay in the contest longer than they deserved. The first half laid bare a defensive brittleness — Ezri Konsa's selection drawing scrutiny as the half wore on — and Tuchel made no effort to conceal his frustration from the touchline.
The second half was a different story. Jude Bellingham surged through midfield to restore England's lead almost immediately after the restart, and from that moment Croatia were pinned back. Noni Madueke, deployed to protect Saka's fitness, had been sharp throughout, winning the penalty that set Kane on his way. A saved spot-kick was overturned when the keeper was judged to have moved early, and Kane did not waste the reprieve.
The most telling moment arrived at the 72nd minute. With England leading 3-2, Tuchel chose attack over caution — sending on Rashford, Saka, and Rogers rather than defensive cover. Former England players watching on could barely contain their admiration. Rashford duly wrapped up the win, completing a performance that had shifted from anxious to commanding.
Yet the first-half defensive lapses are a warning that cannot be dismissed. Against the clinical strikers England will face deeper in this tournament, that fragility could prove costly. Tuchel knows it. He also knows his team selection was vindicated, and that his willingness to chase victory rather than protect leads marks a clear departure from his predecessor. Whether that philosophy holds against elite opposition is the question that will define this campaign. England face Ghana in Boston on Tuesday with a platform — and an obligation to build on it.
Thomas Tuchel's England walked out of Dallas Stadium into the Texas night having just reminded their supporters what it feels like to watch a team play with genuine attacking intent. The 4-2 victory over Croatia was not a flawless performance—far from it—but it was something English football has struggled to deliver in recent years: it was fun to watch.
Harry Kane had told his teammates before the match to be "free in the mind," to embrace rather than shrink from the pressure of a World Cup. They listened, at least in patches, and what emerged was a game that kept you pinned to your seat—though not always for the reasons Tuchel would have preferred. England led twice through Kane, who equalled Gary Lineker's record of 10 World Cup goals for England, only to see sloppy defending drag Croatia back into the contest. The first half exposed a defensive brittleness that would terrify any coach facing world-class strikers. Ezri Konsa's selection ahead of Manchester City's Marc Guehi looked increasingly questionable as the half wore on, and Tuchel made little effort to hide his frustration on the touchline.
Whatever was said in the dressing room at halftime worked like a spark. England emerged with a different intensity entirely. Jude Bellingham, surging through midfield with the kind of power that left defenders trailing, restored the lead almost immediately after the restart. The midfielder's goal—a run that left Mario Pasalic behind before beating keeper Dominik Livakovic—marked the moment the game shifted decisively. From that point, Croatia were pinned back under wave after wave of English attacks. Noni Madueke, deployed to preserve Bukayo Saka's fitness, had been sharp throughout, winning an early penalty when he reacted faster than a laboring Luke Modric. Kane saw one penalty saved but got a second chance when Livakovic was ruled to have left his line, and he did not miss.
But the most revealing moment came at the 72-minute mark, when Tuchel made his substitutions. With England leading 3-2, he could have tightened things up, brought on defensive reinforcements, played it safe. Instead, he sent on Rashford, Saka, and Morgan Rogers—three attacking players designed to extend the advantage, not merely protect it. It was a statement of intent that former England players watching from the studio could barely contain their enthusiasm for. Wayne Rooney called it brave and positive. Paul Robinson praised the boldness. Joe Hart noted that the substitutes gave Tuchel "a real headache"—the kind every manager wants, where the bench is so strong it forces difficult decisions. Rashford wrapped up the win late on, the final flourish on a performance that had shifted from anxious to commanding.
There is, however, a sobering reality beneath the excitement. England's defensive vulnerabilities in the first half were not a minor flaw—they were a warning. Against better opposition, against the kind of clinical finishers England will face deeper in this tournament, that slipshod defending could be catastrophic. Tuchel knows this. He also knows that his team selection was vindicated: Bellingham over Morgan Rogers, Madueke over Saka, all the tight calls made the right way. Kane now has 81 goals in 115 internationals, a remarkable tally that speaks to his consistency.
What Tuchel has signaled, though, is that he will not win this tournament by hiding. He has spoken openly about wanting "the second star on the shirt"—a first men's World Cup for England since 1966. His attacking strategy, his willingness to push for victory rather than defend leads, marks a clear departure from his predecessor Gareth Southgate, who was often criticized for caution. Whether that approach will hold up against elite opposition remains the open question. For now, England have their platform. They must build on it when they face Ghana in Boston on Tuesday.
Citas Notables
When we were sat there watching the game and I saw the three lads coming on, Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka and Morgan Rogers, I said 'I absolutely love these subs.' I loved how positive Thomas Tuchel was being because if you sit back and wait for Croatia to come on then it gets nervy.— Wayne Rooney, BBC Sport pundit
The biggest thing I can take from this is that the players who came on gave Thomas Tuchel a real headache and that's the biggest thing for the manager.— Paul Robinson, BBC Radio 5 Live pundit
La Conversación del Hearth Otra perspectiva de la historia
What struck you most about how Tuchel approached this game differently?
The substitutions at 72 minutes. He was up 3-2 and brought on three attacking players. Most managers would have thought about damage control. He thought about the kill.
But didn't that risk leaving them exposed at the back?
Absolutely. And that's the tension running through the whole match. England's attack was genuinely thrilling—Kane twice, Bellingham's surge, Rashford finishing it off. But the defense in the first half was genuinely alarming. Against Croatia it didn't matter. Against France or Argentina it could be fatal.
So is Tuchel's approach reckless, or is it the only way England can actually win?
That's what everyone's going to be asking. He's clearly decided that England's best chance is to outscore people, not out-defend them. Whether that's genius or hubris depends entirely on what happens next.
The Konsa selection—that seemed to bother him.
You could see it on his face. Konsa didn't make a case for himself. But Tuchel didn't panic and change things mid-game. He waited, adjusted at halftime, and the second-half performance was almost a different team.
Is that the real story—that Tuchel can actually manage a game, not just set a formation?
Maybe. Or maybe it's that he has the players to play this way. Kane equaling Lineker's record, Bellingham running through midfield like that, Rashford coming off the bench with that kind of impact. The personnel matters as much as the philosophy.