Group L: England face Croatia challenge, Ghana meet Panama next

KATHMANDU: England are set to begin their FIFA World Cup campaign against Croatia in what is expected to be one of the most closely watched Group L clashes, with kickoff scheduled for 1:45 AM (Nepal time) at AT&T Stadium.

If England go on to lift the World Cup this time, this midweek midnight encounter against Croatia may be remembered as the starting point of their championship journey under head coach Thomas Tuchel.

Despite being one of Europe’s most consistent performers in recent qualification rounds, England have not won a senior international trophy since their historic 1966 World Cup triumph. However, their youth success has been notable, with U-17 and U-20 teams winning World Cup titles in 2017. At senior level, though, the long wait for glory continues.

England were dominant in qualification, becoming the fastest European side to secure a ticket to the United States. They won all eight of their qualifying matches and remarkably kept clean sheets in every game, highlighting their defensive strength.

However, their pre-World Cup friendlies raised some concerns. A draw against Uruguay and a shock 1–0 defeat to Japan—England’s first-ever loss to an Asian nation—slightly dented momentum. They later recovered with victories over New Zealand and Costa Rica, with a commanding 3–0 win over Costa Rica restoring confidence in Harry Kane’s side.

England have generally started World Cup tournaments strongly, losing only one of their last eight opening matches. Since their 2–1 defeat to Italy in 2014, they have avoided defeat in group openers across the last two editions, beating Tunisia and Iran respectively.

Croatia, meanwhile, arrive with a strong tournament pedigree despite not being considered outright favourites. The Croatian national team impressed in recent global tournaments, finishing runners-up at the 2018 World Cup in Russia and securing third place at Qatar 2022. They also earned a medal in the 2022–23 Nations League.

However, under coach Zlatko Dalić, Croatia struggled in Euro 2024, failing to win a single match and exiting at the group stage—one of their worst performances since 2006.

Despite that setback, Croatia remain a disciplined and experienced side. Their World Cup qualifying campaign was impressive, losing just two points across eight matches. Their pre-tournament friendlies included defeats to Brazil and Belgium, but they edged Slovenia 2–1 thanks to a stoppage-time winner from Mario Pašalić.

Croatia are also known for their late-game resilience. In the 2018 World Cup semi-final, Mario Mandžukić famously scored in the 109th minute against England to send Croatia into the final.

For England, injury concerns remain minimal, but Bukayo Saka’s fitness is a key worry for Tuchel. If Saka is not fully fit, Chelsea winger Noni Madueke is expected to start on the right flank, while Barcelona new signing Antony Gordon is likely to feature on the left.

Croatia’s biggest threats remain their experienced core, with Luka Modrić and Ivan Perišić identified as key players to watch. Perišić enjoyed a strong season, contributing to 26 goals for PSV.

Following this fixture, Group L action continues as Ghana face Panama at 3:45 AM (Thursday), promising another exciting contest in the group.