England made a statement to the other 47 nations at the 2026 World Cup with their 4-2 victory over Croatia.
The Three Lions are among the favourites to win the tournament, but, as always, many have doubts about their credentials.
However, England supporters will be delighted with their performance against a solid Croatia team on Wednesday night.
Thomas Tuchel’s side were not perfect by any means, but they proved to the world that they must be taken seriously.
England also broke a 32-year curse, which suggests they are already a better team than in previous tournaments.
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Some very impressive performances
Why England’s win over Croatia was historically significant
England have typically struggled against strong opposition at the World Cup this century.
From Portugal in 2006 to France in 2022, they had not beaten a team in the top 15 in the world rankings since Argentina in 2002.
England beat Argentina 1-0 in the group stage, thanks to a David Beckham penalty, before losing to eventual winners Brazil.
However, things have changed in 2026, as the Three Lions beat the 13th-ranked team in the world (Croatia) at the Dallas Stadium.
England’s 4-2 victory ended a nine-game winless run (two draws and seven losses) against top-15 opponents at the World Cup.
Some will argue Croatia are an ageing team on the decline, but few expected England to score four goals against them.
It was undoubtedly a statement win, which also makes them huge favourites to advance to the knockout rounds as Group L winners.
The Three Lions will be expected to beat both Ghana and Panama before entering the round of 32 with momentum on their side.
Tuchel will not let his players get carried away, but perhaps it is time for England supporters to start dreaming big again.
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